330°

Forza Horizon 5 Set a New Forza Franchise Launch Month Sales Record, Says NPD

Forza Horizon 5 managed to set a new Forza franchise record when it comes to launch month sales, according to the latest NPD report. Shin Megami Tensei V also set a new dollar sales record for the franchise.

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darkrider1266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

Damn the pokemon power. Still going so strong! Crazy stuff. Only Cod and battlefield could beat him. Unbelievable. Crazy success of shin megami tensei! Cod still the king. Like or not.

4Sh0w1266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

Forza Horizon 5 is a beast, just a phenomenal game from top to bottom. The fact that its available on Gamepass yet still near the top with games like COD, Battlefield & Pokemon which everyone who wanted to play those other games had no choice but to buy them. In other words even with over 10mil playing FH5 via Gamepass it still sold enough to be near the top with industry heavy hitters...that says alot about the greatness that Playground delivered, its the best racer there is imo.

gamer78041266d ago

It has potential but it’s multiplayer is broken. I’ve honestly have never been so disappointed in a Forza game.

roadkillers1266d ago

The Pokemon sales do not include downloads, which is estimated on other consoles to be a majority of sales.

strifeblade1266d ago ShowReplies(2)
thesoftware7301266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

Forza, 4th best selling game behind those big names!
Key word 'Selling'. That is big since its included with GP...Cant keep and excellent game down.

CoD always wins, I my self find the series fun, just let down by Zombies this year. Hopefully they can make up for it with additional content during the seasons.

SpineSaw1266d ago

Call of Duty "will" always win. I don't get all the hate it gets from people then day one the same people purchase it and on Xbox there is no other franchise to compare to Call of Duty.

gamer78041266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

My favorite part of the call of duty is driving around wherever I want in a mclaren with friends…

Teflon021266d ago

Kinda feel bad for Forza. It actually deserved to be 1 or 2. But launching with Battlefield, CoD and Pokémon is like asking to come last unfortunately

yuukiliu1266d ago

it's free on gamepass, add those numbers and it's number 1 by a huge margin

ReadyPlayer221266d ago

But I was told Game Pass killed sales? That was the narrative in the UK article about Forza's initial sale numbers.

ocelot071266d ago

Without gamepass it could have beaten cod and battlefield.

Even though I have Gamepass for another 2 months. I bought Forza horizon 5 as its class.and deserves all the sales it gets.

Stuff like Halo and Gears am glad there on GP as I didn't have to waste me money on them.

darkrider1266d ago

Games like forza shouldn't be on gp day one. This just shows that. Much less halo or forza and gears, but ori and other low profile games could.

1266d ago
SpineSaw1266d ago

@ocelo

"Without gamepass it could have beaten cod and battlefield."
please Bro what are you smoking are where do the rest of us get it? ..... Thanks for the laugh.

4Sh0w1266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

I think some of you are missing the point. Sure its nice that Forza sold alot even though it's on Gamepass but ANYTHING thats part of a subscription does NOT NEED to sell well individually/physically, no it needs to drive up subs and keep the subscribers happy longterm= thats the whole point. From Playgrounds point of view, they are 1st party so they got paid either way, from Microsoft point of view they'll take your money but they would rather you were a new longterm subscriber. Game sales no longer are just about traditional sales methods for Microsoft. As stated before gamepass increases spending within the Xbox ecosystem with gamepass subscribers playing 40% more & spending 20% more compared to people who just a buy their games.
https://www.google.com/amp/...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1266d ago
darkrider1266d ago

Exactly. Thats why it's not on 1, 2 or 3... And that those 10 millions that play the game didn't buy it. That's one of the problems. No matter how good it's just a rent...

thesoftware7301266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

Hahaha,

Ori is hardly a low profile game. go check Metacritic. Not to mention IMO(as well as judging from MC score) it beats the pants off of most higher budget games. 2 mill sold for WotW, and countless GotY nominations and wins.

What makes it low profile?

1266d ago
1266d ago
darkrider1266d ago

Software730. Forza is a system seller like halo and gears. Gamers buy the console to play it. Ori, age of empires flight simulator and others aren't. They are niche games. Gamers don't buy consoles to play those.

1266d ago
thesoftware7301266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

Nope, you said "Low profile games". That is a big difference from a system seller..it seems more like an attempt to downplay something.

Metroid is not really a system seller. but not low profile at all.

Returnal is not a system seller. But not low profile.

Your choice of wordplay was obvious and suspect.
2 mill sold is better that some "High Profile" games, and hardly something to make it seem needed to be diminished.

I'm pointing out that ilu used the wrong game to make a not good point to begin with.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1266d ago
Neonridr1266d ago

it definitely hurts sales, but MS is clearly ok with that tradeoff. I picked it up on Steam and it was well worth the price of purchase.

ABizzel11266d ago

I mean this isn't really a good indicator, or a bad one for that matter. Coming in 4th for a debut game normally is a bad look, but considering the 3 games that it launched against, it's understandable. Without a number we won't know for sure.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1266d ago
OG_TK_Cole1266d ago

I guess the argument that Xbox Game Pass keeps Gamers from buying video games was wrong. Forza Horizon 5 Is a very good game. It definitely deserves all the praise it is getting. Congrats to Playground Games.

darkrider1266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

Not really. For that to be true it would have to be much higher in the charts. This was the first must have since the launch of the console and its also on last gen consoles and pc. Don't know anyone that says it's great to be 4... There talks about 10 millions played the game... If only half of those or even less got the game.... Amazing game, scores. Did they get the game? It's easy to see the majority didn't. Thats GP for you.

OG_TK_Cole1266d ago (Edited 1266d ago )

Kind Sir please go find someone else to debate with. Im a grown man with kids, Im not on vdieo game websites to debate my opinions, or yours. HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF YOUR DAY.

1266d ago
Atom6661266d ago

Lol, it was only outsold by COD, BF, and Pokemon.

I'm sure there are better articles where you can preach about the evils of GP.

This one ain't it.

SpineSaw1266d ago

@OG_TK_Cole

"I guess the argument that Xbox Game Pass keeps Gamers from buying video games was wrong"

I not sure many will agree with the comment. You got another Xbox 1st party release that's sold really well in say they last 5yrs or since Game Pass released? Both Sony and Nintendo have no trouble selling there 1st party games but Game Pass is a thing because Microsoft can't sell there's.

Nacho_Z1265d ago

It certainly proves that it doesn't stop people buying Forza Horizon. Whether that means that it disproves the idea that games in general won't sell well is another matter entirely.

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90°

Forza Horizon 5 - PS5 Pro Features Trailer

Elevate your Forza Horizon 5 experience with updated features on the PlayStation®5 Pro, including advanced ray tracing while driving and so much more. Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in over 700 of the world’s greatest cars.

lukasmain2d ago

I've been playing this on the Pro since launch. It's been perfect. I've never even noticed pop-in. It's just been running perfectly in my opinion.

Babadook71d 20h ago

I've never owned any titles in this series (I'm a PS guy), but I think they just sold me a copy.

InUrFoxHole1d 8h ago

Beautiful looking game. This is why console wars are so stupid. Play what you want... Where you want

Deathdeliverer15h ago

In that case… why even have more than one console choice?

InUrFoxHole13h ago

Because each console provides different price points, graphics and eco systems.

220°

Shuhei Yoshida warns subscription services could become 'dangerous' for developers

'If the big companies dictate what games can be created, I don't think that will advance the industry.' -Shihei Yoshida

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gamedeveloper.com
Sonyslave33d ago

🙄 same guy who said 80$ is a steal lol and according to him M$ shouldnt put good on a services🤣 wtf

Obscure_Observer2d ago

Talks about "innovation" while all his previous company is focused on is GaaS and Remasters. Smh.

This guy is a walking contradiction.

pwnmaster30002d ago

This makes no sense at all.
What does his PREVIOUS company have to do with him and his statement??
Did he have a say on what they are doing? Could of sworn that was Jim Ryan’s fault?

Outside_ofthe_Box2d ago

"This guy is a walking contradiction."

The irony

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Yet he was In charge and led the PlayStation to overtake xbox

Console VR was birthed because if him he pushed the whole psvr project if that isn't innovative then what is.

Doesn't matter how many alts you use to try and constuct ab alt narrative shu is highly respected in the industry and has done as much for gaming as some of the best names in the industry

Obscure_Observer1d 15h ago (Edited 1d 15h ago )

@Profchaos

I don´t care what he did in the past.

Sony didn´t cared for him either as he was forced to accept a role as CEO of Indie games or get out! After everything he done for the company.

https://www.eurogamer.net/f...

I been seeing LOTS of innovative day one games on Gamepass (Including Clair Obscur) and all I´ve been seeing for Playstation first party @Full Priced is mostly (but not only) GaaS and Remasters. Deny all you want, that´s the truth.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 15h ago
XiNatsuDragnel3d ago

I can agree with that on some level

robtion2d ago

Subscription services are absolutely awful. They have essentially destroyed the movie industry and unfortunately gaming may be next.

In the long term you will end up needing 10 different subscriptions and the prices will keep going up while the quality keeps going down.

MrDead3d ago

Subscription services have f***ed the movie industry and it's work force, caused massive studio buyups by companies like Disney consolidating huge parts of the industry under one roof and have creatively sterilised the IP's they've gobbled up. The same thing is happening to gaming, MS being the main greedy piggy.

goken2d ago

Well… if you’re talking about the US movie industry, then I couldn’t agreed with you more.
But the movie industry isn’t just the US. For some other countries, it’s been considered good. Like where i am, the movie industry here used to be terrible, now it’s a bit less terrible. Mostly this is because in the past movies only can make money mostly on it’s cinema run, but now after the cinema run they can get some funds from the subscription services. Which helps significantly.
But these movies mostly suck due to the low budgets and general lack of talent lol

Vits2d ago

I get what he's saying, but I don’t think we need subscription services to see a lot of the problems he's pointing out. All we really have to do is look at the gaming industry over the last two console generations. Even without subscriptions, the big AAA publishers have already been moving in a direction where almost every game feels like it's built from the same template. It’s all about streamlined, safe design choices that are meant to appeal to the widest possible audience. At this point, you could probably ask an AI to make a AAA game from a certain publisher and it would spit out something pretty close to what they’re actually making.

Now, about the whole “walled garden” thing... that’s not some future problem, it’s already here. Consoles have always worked like that. Their entire business model is based on controlling what gets released on their platforms. Sure, maybe they’re not as locked down as the extreme examples people bring up, but the end result is similar. If you’re not making the kind of game the platform holder wants, you’re probably not getting through the door. We’ve seen it with Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, even Valve does this in its own way with Steam. So yeah, the issue isn’t new or exclusive to subscription services.

Would a subscription-only future make that problem worse? Sure, it definitely could. But I don’t think we’re heading in that direction anytime soon. Unless physical hardware truly becomes a thing of the past and everyone switches to streaming games, I just don’t see subscriptions becoming the dominant model. They’ll stick around as an option, but I doubt they’ll take over completely.

Now, what will take over completely is digital media, and that’s a whole different issue that’s going to hit us a lot sooner. PC and mobile are already basically 100% digital, and that makes up around 70% of the gaming market. The remaining 30% is consoles, and even there we’re seeing the shift. Sony’s removing the disc drive from boxed consoles, Nintendo is releasing just one super expensive 64GB cartridge for their new system, which means almost all third-party publishers will end up going digital and Microsoft is mostly digital already. You either get a digital-only or a physical box with disc that only acts as a activation key. So yeah, that future’s already knocking on the door and the damage will be enormous.

CrimsonWing692d ago

Right, because then you can’t sell individual games at $80, which is an incredible value for the consumer!

BLow2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I find this statement quite telling. Apparently a certain fan base wasn't buying games at $60 or $70 dollars either. That's why the Gamepass model exists with day and date. What was the excuse then?

We as gamers want it all but don't want to pay for anything. Well, I take that back. A good chunk of them. You don't have to buy a game at $80. Wait for to go down in price. Most gamers have a massive backlog. Play those games until the one you wants drops and n price. Simple

goken2d ago

I never buy any games at full price, it’s up to the consumer to wait for a price cut.

Generally I don’t buy above $10, normally around $5. So don’t agree with 80 70 60? Just wait a bit

CrimsonWing692d ago

Totally fair if that approach works for you, but the flip side is that some dev studios do rely on full-price sales to stay afloat—especially smaller or AA teams. The ‘just wait for a sale’ mindset can really hurt games that aren’t backed by massive budgets or publishers.

It’s also kind of a bummer to finally see a game release you’ve been hyped for, only to feel like you have to wait another year or two just to get a decent discount.

That said, I think the deeper issue is with bloated dev budgets. It’s wild seeing games like First Berserker or Expedition 33 launching at $50 while still managing to look great and make a profit. Meanwhile, some AAA studios say $70 isn’t enough to break even. That raises real questions about where the money’s going and whether the pricing problem is actually a budgeting problem.

thorstein1d 23h ago

To me, it depends on who made it and who will profit.

I bought No Man's Sky back in 2016. They gave me all updates, PSVR,PS5, and PSVR2 versions all for free.

That makes it worth every dollar I spent. Same with Balatro, Stardew Valley, Dave the Diver etc.

Chevalier2d ago

Yeah weird it's like a certain fan base that doesn't buy ANY games and their sales cratered that was why prices has gone up to $80...... hmmm...... they've the same one that has tried to buy up the industry and now has to release games on competing platforms to be viable now...... but you know the studio/company slipped my mind

goken1d 19h ago

You have a point on the bloated development budgets.

I mean look at black myth wukong’s $80m budget vs the $150-200m (possibly more) budget of concord.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 19h ago
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250°

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Star 'Absolutely Devastated' Over Backlash

Dragon Age star Alix Wilton Regan has given her personal response to the backlash faced by last year's Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and blamed the "mixed reactions" on people who "wanted to see the game fail, or wanted to see [BioWare] fail".

-Foxtrot3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Blame everyone else...yeah...great stance

Gives off that "if you didn't like it then you are clearly one of those bigoted trolls" vibe

Lightning773d ago

Who else's fault is it then? Let's talk about it.

-Foxtrot3d ago

There's not much to talk about, Bioware made a s****y Dragon Age game which was heavily dumbed down compared to their previous games.

Yes its true, some trolls were hating on it because of some silly reasons but the rest of people who actually had constructive criticism were lumped into those very same trolls to silence them.

Make anyone who actually has some valid things to say look like bad people so their criticism and opinions are automatically invalid. It's a PR move that has been going on for years, even Hollywood does it with films, it just causes fans to be at each others throats while the spotlight is taken off the games flaws and it becomes all about toxic fans. The developers then sit back, stir the pot while they get away with whatever they've done with their bad product.

OtterX3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

@-Foxtrot hit the nail on the head. For me, and many many others, it had nothing to do with transgender inclusion or whatever.... it was the dumbed down gameplay from previous titles that turned me off! It's cowardly to hide behind the social issue backlash and refuse to accept feedback on the actual game from the rest of us. We simply did not like the new gameplay.

So who's fault is it? Probably happened at the highest level, "let's make a dragon age dumbed down so that a larger audience will enjoy it, which will make us a lot more money!" Except... that backfired. Rpg gamers want deep rpg gameplay.Word got out that it wasn't.

joab7772d ago (Edited 2d ago )

The problem is that we’ve wanted a true successor to DA:Origins for years and never got it. Lorian literally learned from you and now makes your games better than you.
Don’t blame us for the fact that you know exactly what to make and choose not to every single time.
Be happy you sell what you do on name alone. BioWare was my favorite company for so long…

Armaggedon2d ago

@Joab

“Makes your games better than you?” Really? Last I checked, Bioware hasnt released a crpg since origins, so Larian is not doing anything one to one better than a fundamentally different type of game. Bioware has changed their direction, and fans are so bound to their attachment to the old Bioware, that they are becoming resentful and hateful, and worst of all…blind. Its fng up your perception.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2d ago
thorstein3d ago

Who do you blame when the hate comes before a game releases? (ie MindsEye)

mkis0073d ago

Exactly. People are hiding behind their real reasons bs...everyone knows this game was targeted before it could be properly judged..ie before it was even released people decided to trash it.

coolbeans2d ago

You acting as though it's impossible to for anyone to gauge any potential red flags before a game's release, but that's not the case.

-Pre-release footage
-Title name changes
-In-house comparisons to Norse God of War
-An EA-published game that's been in development hell

I don't see the gotcha in your comment. Hell, bringing up MindsEye doesn't do you favors, given how selectively edited its trailers often are. The majority of 'hate' thrown towards MindsEye is justified skepticism.

thorstein1d 23h ago (Edited 1d 23h ago )

@coolbean

That's because there is no gotcha in my comment. It's a genuine question.

Using MindsEye as an example is apropos because it's timely and the latest game to be hated.

It hasn't released and the hate I'm referring to is people straight up lying that no gameplay footage was released.

Hating games before they release isn't new. And no one is saying don't be cautious with a new IP. But you knew that already.

Lightning773d ago (Edited 3d ago )

People originally hated the color pallette me included but I waited and wanted to look past the color scheme and what I played was solid. The characters aren't everyone's cup of tea ok I understand, but certain characters had a depth like identity struggle and navigating the world as their true self. Ok I like that character dynamic personally. I can go on but about what I liked in detail but anyway. People chose one thing to hate and ran with it and justified the reason each time leading up to release. DEI! Oh like mass effect dei same sex marriage? Where's the outrage for that all those years ago? Unwarranted amount of hate for stupid contradictory reasons. If you don't like for honest reasons ok cool respects but if it's bad faith then yeah not cool.

Now Minds Eye. I had to do some investigating. The studios biggest marketing promotion is from the creator of GTA Leslie Benzie already set themselves up for very high expectations. I know it's a way to get eyes on the game. You also have to deliver a experience that's at least on par maybe better with past GTA games. The pre orders went out with out gameplay or no real incentive to pre-order. So get your money now up front before we show anything. The "leak" and streamer showing "excitement" for the game. While comments are saying the game looks mid or at very least middling or skeptical comments. No deep dive gameplay just over a week away from Launch. They're already making road maps and promises already before the game even releases which also not a good sign. I dont hate for no reason if I see a game that looks weird I say something or I could be all wrong and the game could get a 80 meta after all. though I think it's gonna get a 57 meta personally.

PanicMechanic3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

There is literally dialogue of a character explaining how they need to pay reparations to another character in the form of doing push ups because they “misgendered” them. The dialogue in the game is hyper tolerant woke BS

It’s not the same as mass effect, not even close

mkis0073d ago

panic

sounds like an in game joke.

IAMRealHooman2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@PanicMechanic Not how the scene played out. Isabela establishes that she made her crew do push ups if they fucked up, ( jobs, missions, anything,etc...) She misgenedered Taash and starts doing them on her own, Taash is confused until she explains it.

Now is Taash still badly written? Yes

neutralgamer19922d ago

It’s honestly frustrating to see what happened with Dragon Age: Veilguard. This is an established IP—fans knew what they wanted: a true sequel in spirit and tone to Dragon Age: Origins. Instead, Bioware overhauled the identity of the series so much that it barely resembles what made the earlier games great. Characters changing drastically, tone and gameplay shifting too far from the original formula—it just doesn’t land, and frankly, I’d argue Veilguard doesn’t even surpass Dragon Age 2.

If this had launched as a new IP, maybe expectations would’ve been different. But slapping the Dragon Age name on something that feels so disconnected only makes things worse. And once a game gets hit with that "agenda-driven" label—fairly or unfairly—it’s incredibly difficult to shake the stigma.

What makes it more frustrating is the tone from some developers. Telling fans, “This might not be for you” or “Don’t buy it if you don’t like it,” then turning around and painting criticism as toxic or bigoted when people don’t buy it—it’s not a good look. Open, respectful dialogue with the community is how the industry moves forward, not deflection or gaslighting.

Look at Black Myth: Wukong, or the excitement around Expedition 33. These games are succeeding on the merits of gameplay, world-building, and focus—not by leaning into polarizing narratives or identity marketing. Players just want well-made, fun, immersive games. It’s not that deep

Armaggedon2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

This is what people do in general, especially gamers. Gamers look at things as if the devs failed them, and never ask if they themselves are the cause of the dislike for the game.

@Foxtrot again

You calling it a s****y game is constructive huh? That is demolition, not construction. Lol

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 23h ago
lukasmain3d ago

They never wanted to see it fail or the game fail, they wanted to see a good game with a good story that was in line with the original. They knew we weren't going to get this so they openly criticised everything about it. AND they were proven correct. The game sucked and failed in every way. Maybe you should have listened to the fans in the first place.

Blad3runner003d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Perhaps people just wanted a proper Dragon Age game, not a Disney inspired Dragon Age, with awful writing.

MrDead3d ago

This game was changed from a live service to a single player game quite late in the development, I'm surprised it turned out as well as it did. The writing and the direction was screwed by EA marketing teams.

Then you had all the anti-woke psychos set loose by heavily politicised streamer grifters. How people take their directions from those nutters I will never know.

jambola2d ago

how are they grifters? are you just parroting what other people say or do you have proof

MrDead2d ago

Do you have proof that they're not?

I mean just look at Rumble who are funded by people like Peter Thiel and JD Vance or Turning Point USA training right-wing influencers and and paying troll farms to brigade and mass comment right-wing talking points on social media and streaming platforms and then you have the management group Today Is America that manage over 200 influencers and creators to spread right-wing sentiment to their young audience.

Like I said, grifters.

Please feel free to look up anything I've stated.

jambola2d ago

"do you have proof that they're not"
that's not how things work bro
do you have any proof you didn't commit horrible crimes in secret?

MrDead1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 19h ago )

You forgot to read the rest of the comment kid.

Like I said feel free to disprove anything I've stated.

https://www.splcenter.org/r...
https://nupoliticalreview.o...

jambola1d 17h ago

that only applies to certain ones
doesn't apply to anyone specific

Star512d ago

wrong. it isn't a good dragon age game. as someone who's never played a dragon age game. I like it with no previous bias/ history. but I understand those who don't like the turn. But it's not a bad game (cheesy lines aside), it's fun to play

Armaggedon2d ago

Subjective. Something people now and days cannot seem to grasp.

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