320°

Alan Wake 2's Seemingly Dire Sales Don't Paint the Full Picture

IGN: "Earlier today, we reported on Circana's monthly US game sales report, which has Hogwarts Legacy and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in a neck-in-neck battle for annual best-seller. But a quick glance over the charts for November reveals a conspicuous missing entry. Where's Alan Wake 2?"

Nyxus505d ago

I'm still hoping for a physical version down the line.

isarai505d ago

Exactly what I came here to say, I know several in my friend circle doing the same. I wonder how sizeable if a chunk of potential buyers are waiting for a disc version 🤔

JEECE504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

And how much of that group would buy the PC version if it didn't require installing another launcher.

neutralgamer1992503d ago

Jeece

Waiting on steam version. Tired of running all these launchers

JEECE503d ago

@neutralgamer1992

Yep. I can't stand it. I have steam and I tolerate GOG, because they at least theoretically have a different mission than steam (a focus on older games not available elsewhere). But beyond that, it just gets obnoxious. When a friend tells me I should try a game or that they want to play some multiplayer game together, and it doesn't show up on a search on Steam, that's usually the end of the road for me.

-Foxtrot504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

Oh they will, they are just waiting for as many people to buy the digital version

Then they’ll come out with a physical edition hopefully alongside of a collectors edition

Hopefully this will make Remedy learn for the Max Payne remakes

CBaoth504d ago

who learns first, you or them? You do understand digital only was a publisher decision not a developer one, right? RIGHT? EPIC funded Alan Wake 2. Without their money, it wouldn't exist. When's the last time EPIC released a game physically? UT3 on PS3? Seems to me you're pointing the pitchfork at the wrong group. Guess no Steam version was up to them too, eh?

-Foxtrot504d ago

@CBaoth

The fault with Remedy is them constantly propping up digital like it was the only way and will be the only way when you know yourself deep down it's bullshit.

Yeah Epic funded the game but you're telling me they couldn't have gotten physical out of it? Remember Remedy are the ones who went on about how they were going digital for a couple of reasons

It would be cheaper for us and more people are buying digital

https://www.yahoo.com/enter...

It was so it gave them more time to polish

https://www.yahoo.com/enter...

So yes...it is on them because their reasons they've given us make it seem like they had a say. Not once did they mention Epic in either of those articles.

Amplitude504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

This game became a bit of a catalyst for supporting physical media, even for people that buy digital. There's lots of games that are digital only but this one just so blatantly should have had a physical release that it feels like buying it digital is a vote for an all digital future. Any sort of reasoning would have helped sales a lot I think. A simple "guys, it doesn't fit on a BluRay disc" or "we're waiting for all the patches" tweet would have alleviated the "this is a test bed for the all digital future" feeling and it would have gotten so many more sales I think

The lack of a Steam release too is just brutal. Epic's nonsense made this game really hard to support

toxic-inferno504d ago

I for one am a big fan of the Alan Wake / Control universe, but despite my eagerness to play Alan Wake 2, I'm forcing myself to wait for a physical copy. Even if it costs 30% more than the digital version, I'll be willing to wait.

INMATEofARKHAM504d ago

Just wanting for it to release on Steam.

504d ago
Eltorrero504d ago

I'm waiting for the physical copy as well !!!

neutralgamer1992503d ago (Edited 503d ago )

Dumbest decision to skip on physical. I guess physical games don’t sell and everyone buys digital only realize now that there is a sizable market of gamers who buy physical 35-40% of game sale are still physical

People confuse digital revenue with digital sales when digital revenue could be a lot of things

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 503d ago
Snookies12505d ago

Welp, I finally caved and bought it... Never played the original but this had so many amazing reviews and I've owned the original forever. This is also my first purchase on Epic Games Store... I just couldn't resist when it was discounted to $39.99. And they gave me a 33% off coupon on top of that, so it came out to like $28. I pretty much had no choice, lol.

shinoff2183504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

Not gonna lie it's a decent price. Good for you on that. Still more then I'm willing to pay for something digital but to each they own.

Sephiroushin504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

PC gamers are used to pay for digital… now a days it doesnt even matter since many games are broken without day one patchs…

Nyxus504d ago

Most games play fine without patches (at least on PlayStation).

Check out doesitplay.org for more details.

shinoff2183504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

I don't think I'd say broken. But I'd say most aaa games need a patch but there not all broken

Nexus, good look on the link.

tagzskie504d ago

@snookies12 even that kind of price i woudnt buy it in epic store, just release it on steam with 40$ price tag, maybe i might bite. Cause i dont want to pay full when digital.

Snookies12504d ago

That's perfectly fair, I fully understand why people are upset with this game. The developers decision to release digital only was very questionable.

bangoskank504d ago

Just did the same thing because I planned to play this eventually when I finish Alan Wake Remastered and Control, but this price was too low to pass up.

shinoff2183504d ago

Ding ding ding. They fked over a whole group of fans without that physical. I would've bought day one, now I won't buy at all, unless my demands are met. Which is just sell me a physical copy ffs

Terry_B504d ago

And not even that alone.

Its not physical and its also not on steam but just the epic store.

CrimsonWing69504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

But Epic Games fully funded the development of Alan Wake 2…

That’s like saying Sega screwed fans over for making Bayonetta 2 and 3 Switch exclusives, when Nintendo paid entirely for the development.

It makes sense why Epic didn’t put their game on Steam in the exact same sense.

JEECE504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

Yep there are plenty of games that succeed on Steam without ever getting a physical release. It's the fact that they didn't put out a physical version AND it isn't on steam. There's probably a not insignificant group of people who only/primarily buy physical games on console but also buy games on Steam.

Epicor504d ago

This statement is way overblown. Sure having digital only sucks. But if AW2 had a physical copy right now I highly doubt the sales figures would be that much better. Sure like 10-20% better. But Remedy knew this already. It was calculated. They most likely will release a physical copy next year while branding it "director's cut" or "ultimate edition" or something along those lines.

Did you know that selling 1M digital copies at $50 price point is way more profitable than selling 1,2M physical copies at $60?

shinoff2183504d ago

10 to 20 percent is kind of a big deal. If I'd was a developer id want 10 to 20 percent. Let's be honest though your just throwing a number out there. None of us know. Maybe if they release a physical we will find out.

I will tell you when baldurs gate 3 was announced to be getting a physical I seen a ton of people expressing that's what they wanted, waited for, etc

gold_drake504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

maybe people wanted a physical version too.

thats the reason i didnt buy it anyways.

Andrew336504d ago

Poor sales will definitely make them want to spend money to release a disc version.

504d ago
Terry_B504d ago

Yup..2-4 years too early to go only digital for such a big game

recoctimocassirnff504d ago

2 to 4 years too early?

I think you mean, never.

Terry_B504d ago

Its just a matter of time until games, music, movies..maybe even books will only be sold in digital form.

504d ago
Amplitude504d ago (Edited 504d ago )

@Terry_B
Nah I think games are very different.
Unlike movies and music which are relatively inexpensive and significantly more convenient to have access to at all times, a game CONSOLE is very different. The games are expensive as hell, have extremely large file sizes, and the population of people that want to make sure all games are preserved for their original hardware is simply too large. Nobody cares about preserving their DVD copy of Bad Boys 2. Physical console media isn't going anywhere and if it does, you've pretty much killed off what makes a console a console.

I think generally even people who only buy digital don't support an all digital future for consoles. It doesn't take a genius to see what happened with that Sony movie service and imagine it happening to your games down the line

Show all comments (54)
110°

Remedy Talks Going Over Budget on Alan Wake 2

Remedy says there's always a big challenge trying to match creative ambition with realistic budgets, and how many units you can sell.

TheColbertinator39d ago

I wish they had released a Steam version on launch. I feel that should have been part of their focus right away from announcing the game.

LucasRuinedChildhood39d ago

They definitely wanted to but Epic published the game.

REDGUM39d ago

Would have made up alot of ground had they have released a physical version at the same time as the digital release.
I think thats where it bit them in the bum to be honest.

IAMRealHooman38d ago

honest question, have they broken even yet?

senorfartcushion38d ago

Weren't they whining over not breaking even a few weeks ago? No all-of-a-sudden they're talking about overspending on the budget?

70°

Alan Wake 2 Finally Recouped Development Costs 16 Months After Launch

Remedy Entertainment has announced that Alan Wake 2 has finally recouped its development costs and has been profitable since the end of 2024.

Read Full Story >>
tech4gamers.com
REDGUM76d ago

Should have been a physical release as well at launch. That would have changed the numbers. Hopefully they and others learn from this digital is great but so many out there like physical too.

ravens5276d ago

Yup. I'd like to know how many physical copies it sold. I still haven't bought it yet, but I plan to.

jznrpg39d ago (Edited 39d ago )

I bought it right away but I’m sure it recieved less sales than it would have. I the end I’d rather wait to have dlc and game on disc, but you never know if that’s going to happen or not.

140°

Alan Wake 2 Sales Surpass 2 Million Units, Max Payne Remake and Control 2 Progressing Well

Remedy Entertainment reveals that Alan Wake 2 has sold over two million units and begun accruing royalties.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
Jingsing78d ago

Probably would have sold a lot more had it been available physically at launch. I feel like Remedy's greed will eventually close them down.

toxic-inferno78d ago

I'm not sure it's about greed. I am one of the fans who waited until the physical version was released (I've only just played it, as a matter of fact).

Remedy's games are a hard sell in most regards. The nature of the story appeals to a smaller group of people than the average game with it's level of ambition. As a result, and to ensure they can release the game they want to make, they are required to partner with companies that impose restrictions and make decisions like seen in this case.

Remedy is not complaining that it has only just become profitable. They are used to this. I think it has been said that Alan Wake II is the game of theirs that has turned a profit quickest.

Out of all the developers out there, I think they are possibly one of the least greedy. Many other developers would choose to make decisions that increase their financial takings - Remedy seems to make decisions that allow them to release the game they want to release, without sacrificing the vision that they have.

Rainbowcookie54d ago

I agree very Niche games , awesome but pretty niche. I do applaud them to sticking too their vision instead of buckling to the crappy spirit of the age.

Tacoboto77d ago

Remedy's greed, talk about not knowing what you're talking about.

I'm guessing everyone forgot that Epic published and funded this game, and put the terms on its distribution...

RiseNShine78d ago

It took too many wrong decisions like EGS exclusivity and no physical edition.

78d ago
Scissorman78d ago

I'm glad this finally broke 2 million units sold, but Silent Hill 2 hit that goal in far less time and on fewer consoles. Remedy really needs to rethink putting its games on EGS.

Kassanova0778d ago

Good to hear. Next time do a Physical release day 1.

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