Dead Cells Switch is outselling the PS4 version by a factor of four to one

Switch version of the game seems to be much more popular than the PS4 version.

[Hardiman]

More games competing for attention on PS4. That said Dead Cells and Deaths Gambit are great games and I got them on my Pro that is until Friday of course.

[DarXyde]

I'm sure that's partly true, but I think your assessment ignores other factors. It is likely portability plays a role in its success. We also don't know the sales breakdown by region. If Japan is a significant force of the game's sales, it makes pretty good sense.

[playnice]

The Switch is a perfect place for indie games :)

[shuvam09]

Also, the IGN Switch review got it a lot of attention...
I didn't even know Dead Cells was available on the PS4...
I thought it was Switch exclusive...

[KillBill]

"If Japan is a significant force of the game's sales, it makes pretty good sense." - Japan is no longer a significant force on game sales. They just don't factor as much as they used to. UK has jumped Japan and taken control of more influence on game sales than Japan.

[DarXyde]

KillBill,

I think that depends on the game, don't you? The physical sales of Mario Odyssey, for example, is almost 2 million (though VGChartz is the only metric I have for this). Let's also consider that Japan has the most physical sales of Monster Hunter World on PS4 in all other regions combined. Considering the priority for minimalism in Japan, I would not be surprised if digital sales take priority there. I would rather avoid anecdotal evidence, but I have spent time in Tokyo with with my gaming friends and they--not speaking for others--don't take an active interest in owning a lot of games. It makes a ton of sense for them because their apartments are tiny (you really need to see as much to believe it). I cannot speak for others in Japan, but the point that I'm making is Japan is likely still a significant sales force but it depends on the game...like everywhere else. And when games that would be huge in Japan are on the lighter side in terms of physical sales, you really should not discount the possibility that it's doing great digitally. VGChartz pegs Persona 5 (PS4) at just behind the US in terms of physical sales as of December of 2017. Go to Japan and shoot over to Akihabara and tell me you don't see an insane amount of merchandise, kiosks, billboards, etc. around the area for the game. You can even hear the game's OST playing from the SEGA Arcades. Why so much promotion 2 years after release in Japan if it isn't such a big piece of the gaming culture? Why so much gaming culture in general if Japan is not a significant force? If you look at the physical sales, you might think games don't matter much anymore...but the amount of investment that it is very visible in country says otherwise.

Monster Hunter is confounding however since the physical sales are high. Might have to do with people buying a PS4 MHW bundle.

Combine all of that with the fact that Dead Cells is doing swimmingly on Switch. Could be portability, which is also big in Japan. Correlation is certainly not causation, especially with something so multivariate. But I would definitely not discount the possibility, which brings me to my point: Japan is still a force to be reckoned with in gaming.

[Link2DaFutcha]

Portability is the biggest factor for me, I play dead cells on my train ride to and from work most days. It's a great game on the go

[Neonridr]

@KillBill - but yet MHW sold over 2 million copies in Japan on the PS4. Does that not count or factor in? Splatoon 2 has sold over 2.5 million copies for a Switch that has only sold 5 million units over there.

How are we still acting like Japan doesn't count?

[shinoff2183]

No I think he is just plain right. I plan on getting these for ps4, but right now I really want dragon quest 11 and spiderman. So unfortunately my money is tied up with those two.

[zeuanimals]

That's kinda true. Dead Cells is a perfect game for a portable. Could probably put in a few good runs on my way to work. But I think it's mostly cause the Switch is pretty dry.

[Christopher]

You pretty much saying the same thing, just different angles. Indie games are typically designed for shorter stints, not so for AAA. So, again, competing software.

I rarely play Indies on my PS4 and typically do so on a mobile device. It's when I'm not playing AAA games and they're made for the often occurring interruptions.

[thorstein]

Spiderman. Seriously.

If it hadn't been releasing, the numbers would be similar.

Good for Dead Cells and Motion Twin.

I love success stories.

[Profchaos]

Spiderman is pulling a phenomenonal amount of attention along with red dead next month so lots of people have probably not even heard of dead cells because the PS4 has a huge amount of high profile games coming out for it

[TyrellCorp]

Idk man, while obviously Spider-Man and RDR2 are both gonna be big hitters, and I wouldn’t consider another platform other than my Pro. There’s something about games like Octopath Traveler, Dead Cells, Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley, etc that just fit perfectly with the Switch. A portable indie collection is just really cool imo

[Neonridr]

Dead Cells came out early enough that Spiderman did not factor into the equation.

[thorstein]

@Tyrell

Of course. Switch has awesome exclusives. That's why I have mine.

[mkis007]

The more games on a system the less each game will sell unless it is GTA. Some other exceptions

[chiefJohn117]

Lol WHAAAT!!! 80 MILLION SOLD! 4x the install base yet selling 4x less copies of a games and that's your excuse 😆

[mkis007]

Please let me know how many copies of any forza sold???

Xbox 360 had 80,000 and forza never even broke 3 million.

It's just common sense. The more variety you have the less of the same thing you have to take. The library of Switch games is very small. And you can count on one hand the must-haves in any genre.

[indysurfn]

Using your logic, then what is xbox's problem. EVERY game that releases on XBOX should outsell what is on PS4!.

[Andy_Dee]

This! ^

Just about to write that ps4 has way more games and Spider-Man coming out tomorrow and tomb raider week after.

GG ppl nothing to get hyped about :D

[itsmebryan]

The spin begins.smh

[Hardiman]

I have octopath for the Switch! I'm not anti Switch im just saying come Friday there is one game that's got my attention and it's Spider-Man! I've been setting on go for awhile! The anticipation is palpable! Hell my wife loves Spidey and is even excited and she's not a gamer!

We have the Switch for Nintendo exclusives and I have tons of indies on my Pro from Twimbleweed Park, Hellblade , Dead Cells, Deaths Gambit, Layers of Fear etc.

Sure portability can be factored into the sales but when there are so many more games available and have released in this year alone for PS4 you can't deny that is just as much a factor!

[indysurfn]

it is not as simple as more games on PS4 will make SWITCH sell more. If that was true then EVERY GAME would sell more on Xbox one then on PS4. But it doesn't, in fact it is usually the other way around.

[FallenAngel1984]

Ain’t that something

[AngainorG7X]

Impressive but tbh it's the kind of game that feels better on a portable device

[Jaces]

Very true, that's why I got it for Switch. XD Great game, super addictive.

[AngainorG7X]

It is!

[Mr_Writer85]

I've never seen gameplay for this, but after reading your comment I thought I'd check it out.

Whilst it's certainly not out of place on the PS4, I agree it looks like it fits better on the Switch.

[thejigisup]

Which is why you can play it on the Vita.

[Obelisk92]

That's the reason, indie games feel way better on the switch... Hollow Knight, Owlboy, Dead Cells, Salt & Sanctuary, I'm picking all of them on Switch for portability.

[Loktai]

I wouldn't say feel better just convenient games to have mobile.

[madforaday]

I actually had no idea it was on the Switch, I may have gotten it on my Switch if I known that.

[shinoff2183]

How so
I can enjoy a game on my tv just as much as you can on a portable. I really dislike that argument.

[Smokehouse]

I bought it on PS4 but I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. It seems like one of those games that was made for the switch and quick portability. Die a few times and then turn it off. This isn’t surprising at all, great game.

[PhoenixUp]

You still don’t see a lot of AAA games selling better on NS than on other consoles, only indies

[Gemmol]

FIFA on switch outsold ps4 version in Japan
Dragon ball xenoverse switch outsold ps4 version in Japan
Hero academy on switch outsold ps4 version
That new dragon care game that was on this week mediacreate for switch outsold ps4 version

You can keep going the numbers are posted every week

Next test is doom eternal it will drop same day as ps4 version

[King_Noctis]

You are right. There are AAA games on the Switch that outsold the PS4 version in some regions. People seem to ignore that.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

"FIFA on switch outsold ps4 version in Japan". Why does that even matter? If FIFA on PS4 conservatively sold 10 times more than the Switch version, who cares if the Switch version sold better in one region where the franchise doesn't even perform that well in the first place?

http://www.vgchartz.com/gam...
http://www.vgchartz.com/gam...

[AspiringProGenji]

“Japan”

[DragonDDark]

"Japan" not worldwide

[bluefox755]

By listing games that are "better in Japan", and niche Japanese games, you're kind of proving the point. Last doom sold very poorly.

[TheColbertinator]

Hold up.
FIFA Switch outsold FIFA PS4 in Japan.

What about in the US? UK? AU? Europe? Latin America?

[Ben Dover]

LOL Gemmol. Proving facts with only 1 region with a few random games. Trying much?

[PhoenixUp]

So you only going to focus on Japan instead of worldwide sales of multiplat AAA games?

[Neonridr]

that's true, but when one console has 4 times as many units out in the wild, that would be pretty preposterous wouldn't it? You would hope the PS4 version would always be the lead console in terms of a AAA games sales otherwise that would be embarrassing.

[Tazzy]

Sony has triple AAA games they put out and Switch has been outselling PS4 AAA games that Sony puts out.

[Gh05t]

I see Nintendo IP selling more than PS IP with 4x less install base than the PS4 for all that shade people throw.

[TekoIie]

Yeah you do. BotW, Mario: Odyssey, Splatoon 2, ARM's and I'm sure we'll see Good sales from SSMB:U and Pokemon Let's Go.

Lol im sure you meant 3rd party tho right? Well, how many have they had release at the same time and not 2 years later? Games that release two years later on a system aren't exactly hot sellers for said system. On top of that, they're usually the worst versions so another point against them. All they have to sell on is the portability feature. And of course Nintendo fans usually just arent as into those games.

The reason that indies sell better on Switch than on rival systems is because it's where their target demographic is. Indies tend to have a little Nintendo charm to them or feel like something that Nintendo has made once before so it's no surprise when you see things like Blossom Tales, Dead cells, Oceanhorn and Wonder Boy outselling their console counterparts.

[Kumakai]

thats because the ps4 has bigger and better games. no need to rely on indie arcade.

[SuperSonic91]

Exacto!

[Baza]

Switch has some incredible games but they are few and far between. Next great game is Smash Bros in Dec. Switch owners need sometime new to play! And Dead Cells is perfect for Switch.

[porkChop]

Don't Pokémon and Mario Party release before Smash Bros.?

[Gemmol]

You have bad taste in games if the only game you want from now to December is smash

[DragonDDark]

@gemmol
Define bad taste / good taste

[Neonridr]

lol.. still trying to get through Octopath

[Neonridr]

do you even know what classifies as an indie game? This isn't shovelware we are talking about here.

[chiefJohn117]

So every game should sell more on the switch is what you're saying? 😆 #Logic

[jlove4life]

Nah spiderman coming red dead redemption 2 dying light 2 fallout 76 last of us 2 death stranding plus god of war and vr games just to name a few its so many choices vs mario skyrim doom arms splatton zelda so yeah nothing to see here plenty games for the players

[Sgt_Slaughter]

So all of those games that are coming out AFTER Dead Cells affect why people would/wouldn't buy it? Doesn't make much sense, especially when the game is only $30 even for a physical copy.

Dead Cells and many others have sold better on Switch by a wide margin, it's basically taken over as the definitive Indie platform. It's silly to now suddenly downplay a whole genre because of that, considering how praised said genre was when PS4 was the leading platform for them.

[Profchaos]

Well I've pre orderd spider man, spyro, firewall zero hour and red dead that's nearly $400 Australian worth of games when buying deluxe editions so if people are excited for those heavy hitters they are probably putting pre orders down for them so I can understand it

After dropping that cash I would ask do I really need to buy a $30 indie

[jlove4life]

Let me tell you something mean gene i mean sgt. slaughter the point you are missing is everybody dont have disposable income to get every game so since its so many ps4 exclusives as well as 3rd party games that will appear on ps4 and not switch its more likely though switch dosent have a tenth of sales ps4 console has it can sale more copy of a game when choices are scarce in comparison hope i'm more clear on how unreleased games can be in the conversation

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Switch owners are starving for games and indies are more than happy to fill the void. Almost no high profile games have come to the Switch this year, whereas loads of them are competing for people's attention on PS4. It's naturally a tougher environment for indies.

When games like GOW, Far Cry 5, Monster Hunter World, Detroit: Become Human, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, A Way Out, Shadow Of the Colossus, Dark Souls Remastered, Ni no Kuni 2, etc were releasing on PS4, what high profile games were coming to Switch? Almost none. On top of that, the PS4 has a vast existing library of games and games with large online communities. The fastest selling game on the Switch at one point this year was a late port of Crash Bandicoot. If a single high profile game had released before that point (e.g. Octopath Traveler), that would not have happened. I personally wouldn't have time for Dead Cells right now. I intend to try it out at some point but I have a huge backlog and I'm more interested in Guacamelee 2.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

@madmoose

Your comment is complete garbage. The downplaying in your first paragraph is "juvenile & immature" and intentionally misses the point. PS4 owners don't have disdain for indies. Please, grow a pair. Acknowledging that a platform with a lot of high profile AAA games could create a tough situation for indies (smaller games with little to no marketing by comparison) is just common sense. PS4 owners still appreciate indie games. The next 6 months is an insanely packed schedule for PS4 and XB1. That can't be good for indies. People only have so much time and money.

No need to get so emotional. I wasn't commenting on the quality of Crash (I like Crash - no throwing under the bus here) or saying that its relatively positive sales on Switch was a bad thing. Vgchartz estimated 300,000 physical sales for Crash on the Switch and yet it was somehow the fastest selling game on the Switch when it came out. That port came out in June (half way through the year). The logic is quite easy to follow. It's just a fact that a single high profile game would have cleared those numbers. That's why I brought up Octopath Traveler. Simple stuff.

[Neonridr]

amazing how you guys say Switch owners are starving for games yet you don't own one to even understand that statement. Believe me when I say I have more content than I know what to do with.

[chiefJohn117]

ROFL dead has been released, meanwhile none of those games are out lol gtfoh. Y'all cracking me up with this. You can't make this up 😂 does death stranding even have a release date?

Dead cell has released and been out first so your excuse is full of it. It didn't sell because you have games coming 3-6 months away? lol

And PS4 is only winning in console sells because scarlette, scarlette X and elite controller 2 is coming lol see how stupid that sound?

[Lexreborn2]

I elected to get these games on PC now. I rather play them on my surface pro 4 on the go or my PC if I feel like it

[GameGod26]

Dude I have a Surface pro how the hell do you game on this thing lol ? Touch screen won’t let me play the games lol what do I need to do???

[Lexreborn2]

I use the Microsoft usb dongle for my controller and use the dock. I should try it without the dock and see if performance changes. Thanks for bringing that up

[jznrpg]

I bought this and Deaths Gambit on PS4 but Dragons Quest 11 and Spiderman will prevent me from playing them much for awhile

[Elda]

The same here.

[bumbleforce]

Ps4 has games. Switch has last gen games so anything new will sell like crazy

[Sgt_Slaughter]

PS4 started out as as port machine, so by your logic you're also bashing the PS4.

[DragonDDark]

Sure. Ps4 is great now

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Not really. The PS4 was never in the state that the Switch is in. There was never a situation where most current gen AAA games weren't coming to the PS4. Most of the big games this year and next year have not and are not coming to the Switch. That creates a void that indies and ports of old games can fill.

[SuperSonic91]

Port machine?
The PS4 is the original and one only
"IndieStation" at E3 2013!
Coined by Xboxers!
The champion of new indie games fro east and west.

[Thundercat77]

That one is easy. There are more and way better games on PS4 right now keeping the attention of gamers while on Switch, this game may be the best thing they have right now.

[Neonridr]

lol, no. Just no. So many good games on the Switch.

[Monkeymajik11]

That is because there isn't many games to play on Switch. I am sure many PS4 owners are playing their AAA titles or PS4 exclusive games instead of indie games like Dead Cells.

[King_Noctis]

But there are AAA titles on the Switch as well. Some of you act like the only PS4 has good games.

[Elda]

There's no doubt that the PS4 has the better AAA exclusive games,PS4 owners will be enjoying another one of those exclusive pleasures this Friday.

[CarlDechance]

He didn't say there are no AAA titles on Switch, now did he? What he said is a fact. Switch simply does not have as much competition as PS4 and X1 does for games. Switch is on year two while PS4 is on year five. There is just a lot more AAA games to choose from now on PS4 and indie games are not getting as much attention as they did early in the generation when AAA development was trying to catch up. So yeah, no surprise Dead Cells is selling better on Switch. That isn't a slight towards Switch. It is what it is.

@madmoose
You really shouldn't post when you are drinking.

[Neonridr]

there are over 1000 titles on the switch and we are only 18 months old. That's a lot of games to try to grab your attention.

[Monkeymajik11]

PS4 games have more selection of games to play and thanks @CarlDechance for clarifying that I didn't say there wasn't any AAA titles Swtich and I am sure as time goes around there will be many more. And as many people mentioned here, having the Switch go portable will help with many Indie games like DeadCell sell better. So good for them.

[XxINFERNUSxX]

One of the reasons "those who own a Switch tend to prefer having the option to take their game on the go." This game seems more fitting on a handheld.

[Exvalos]

This article would be like saying Candy crush on cellphones outsells the ps4 version

[Sirk7x]

That's pretty insulting to indies lol. Lots of times the developers who work on them are heavily invested in the company and if it doesn't sell, they could lose everything. I'm sure the Dead Cells makers are ecstatic to see how well it's selling on the Switch.

[GameBoyColor]

All of yall makimg it sound like this game is trash just because it sold well on switch and ps4 has more games. It's $25 bucks and can be played in spurts while also having a bunch of content in it. I think it's just that ps4 users aren't interested in that type of game.

[chiefJohn117]

That's what they do. Instead of accepting it they make up a million excuses. PS just can't be beat in their eyes lol the spin be real but it make for funny material

[bigmalky]

I've got it on both. Great game.

[Lividgravy]

Also switch doesn't have a strong catalog of games like sony so it makes sense it sells g better on switch. If Nintendo had as many games as sony it would not be sell at a ratio of 4-1 but what do I know its just my opinion.

[fonger08]

I think it’s more the probability that many PS4/Xbox One owners own a switch as well and buy these games on the go now. I know I do, it’s nothing against the PS4/Xbox as I’ll play the bigger games that are reserved for those systems on the big screen more often. It never ceases to amaze me the youngins that come out of the wood work to defend their console if even a freaking indie game is doing better on its competition. it’s not a big deal, no one is paying you all to play “defense force.” Congratulate the developer and move on.

[LoveSpuds]

I bought Dead Cells on my PS4 as I almost never use my Switch in handheld mode but, I think for those who do take advantage of the Switch's portability, having Dead Cells on the go is a great reason to buy that version.

I do think it's fair to state that PS4 also has a lot of big games coming up which might affect sales of smaller games on this platform. Spiderman, Yakuza 2, Dragons Quest, Tomb Raider, Fist of the Northstar and Assassin's Creed are all on my radar for the next few weeks for example and that's before Red Dead 2 releases.

[Elda]

Agreed! I can add more on that list I intend to buy by the end of the year.

[Geobros]

This is really impressive! Indie games selling better on switch I think.

[Edito]

I think that understandable Switch gamers are looking for something different than what PS4 gamers are looking for and I think that the game fits the switch style better than PS4 or Xbox, it's good that people are enjoying the game but for me personally I will never buy it or play it I just want to play the big games and that's it and i believe most of PS4 owners feel the same...

[Elda]

I've been playing Dead Cells like crazy on my PS4 Pro trying to beat HOTK.I don't own a Switch but I can see it being a Switch handheld favorite,it seems like a game that would be one of those perfect fits on the Switch while on the go.

[windblowsagain]

I have a theory. Because it's a bloody Indie game. When you have Spiderman just released nobody cares about indie games.

[SegaGamer]

And Shenmue 1 and 2, and Dragon Quest XI. If these games were releasing on the Switch, then Dead Cell's would be an afterthought.

[Dixiedevil]

Well, f’n duh. Switch barely has any games and nothing’s on the horizon. I’m actually thinking I might sell mine to pay for all the games coming out the next couple months.

[boing1]

Is there anything amazing coming to Switch this weekend? No? Ok.

[fonger08]

What does this weekend have to do with this game being released 5 months ago?

[Sirk7x]

People who don't play and support great independent games are ignoring some of the best releases in the industry. It also allows studios to try new ideas that would be far too risky for a AAA studio to develop. How many times do you think a dev for a big company came forward with an idea and was told "Nope, not marketable, share holders will never go for it." Games like Inside and Hollow Knight I'd say were crafted with more care than 9/10 of big budget games right now. Not that there's not GREAT AAA games, cinematic experiences you wouldn't get without a $100 million dollar budget, but I think people should be happy that there's an audience and market willing to support these games so they can continue to exist and grow the industry.
That being said, indie games like this are going to continue to sell best on the Switch. If there's no benefit to getting it on console or PC, as in the graphics and experience throughout are uniform, then the portability factor is a large selling point in that instance.

[SurgicalMenace]

You are aware of ALL the options the PS4 has outside of Dead Cell, right?

[lellkay]

Dead Cells is the perfect handheld game. If i had both consoles i'd buy it on switch (as long as it wasn't to much more expensive)

[Hakoom]

no matter how good those 2d scrollers are they will never sell well on consoles..
they are more atractive on handhelds
you wont see a game like this sell 10milion on the ps4 for example but you will see a game like godofwar sell that much

[ps360s]

Nice

Hoping the game will do well, such a fab game

I see some PS4 fans defending it a little >.<

No point defending, if a certain game sells better on 1 system over yours then be it. Not the end of the world.

[Imortus_san]

That's normal, many AAA skip the Switch, You got a ton on remasters, so all in all, indies are what you can play on the Switch.

[Shikoku]

I didnt evem know dead cell was on Ps4 after that story about IGN I thought it was a switch only turd so no surprise that happened.

[Kyizen]

Switch is a great platform for this type of game. I would get this on Vita before I did on PS4.

[madforaday]

All I want to say, this game is great, it forces you to be better, if you die, it is mostly on you. The game can be a grind but the grind comes from getting better. When you die, you start all over, there are permanent upgrades that you can earn (what you grind for) which will help you on your journey. The whole game is procedural generated as well. This is a well made game, with a lot of different builds (making a build depends on what is in the world, it will be different each time).

[FernDiggidy]

Having good games on the go is a plus. Great place for indies.

Needs Gauacamelee 1 and 2.

[Phantom68]

There is little to play on switch

[Flewid638]

The game looks like a more casual, fun, low-resey experience.

It's not going to beat the blockbusters of the bigger systems, but for Switch users its probably a good option compared to the other stuff they have.

[shauzy]

got it on pc woo master race

[GoodnessGreatness]

Probably because everyone wants to buy Spider-man instead.

[zachyBROosevelt]

Okay

[Veneno]

PS4 IS DOOOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!!!!

[mastershredder]

Yeah, it's not exactly the kind of game I want to play even if it is free. I played that genre out long ago. I bet some youth with his Switch will dig it. ... Oh! Well there you go.

[Antnee534]

There is nothing new or big out on switch till November for sure its going to be a big hit for switch. This week alone ps4 has dq and spiderman two games rhat will eat up at minimum 40 hours

[masterfox]

And ?, look at the games visuals , tomorrow I will be playing Spider Man in my PS4 why the hell would I want to play the Snes....I mean Switch game ?, please people be rational.

[chiefJohn117]

Lol the excuses ppl come up with

[MadLad]

"Because there's so much competition on the PS4 derp"
Yeah... that and the fact that the Switch offers a portable version by nature.