Metaphor: ReFantazio disappoints in early Xbox sales charts

Metaphor: ReFantazio set the internet ablaze with its trademark Atlus execution and the generous provision of an extensive free demo ahead of launch. Early indications, however, are that it has failed to make a big impression on consoles.

[ebotj]

Yeah, I'm betting that this is selling just fine on Playstation. It's an Amazing game!

[CrimsonWing69]

Didn’t it sell a million copies faster than any Atlus game, ever? I know me and several others, I personally know, bought it on PS5… so, maybe this article needs to use something other than Xbox charts to gauge a game’s success on consoles 🤷‍♂️

[Einhander1972]

We can look on Amazon.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Launch Edition - PlayStation 5
10K+ bought in past month
#64 in Video Games

Metaphor: ReFantazio Launch Edition - Xbox Series X
1K+ bought in past month
#891 in Video Games

[Cacabunga]

B….bbb…but gamepass is great for developers

[NotoriousWhiz]

^ 91% of xbox games are sold digitally.

[Einhander1972]

NotoriousWhiz

Well 78% are digitally on PlayStation, so even if you use the Amazon numbers as the base and calculate the 13% difference it's still approximately 8:1.

[NotoriousWhiz]

I have no doubts that it sold far better on Playstation than on Xbox. But selling 100k on PS and 10k on Xbox is not great numbers.

[RpgSama]

Xbox Players in large % do not buy games, they play whatever Games pass gives them, this is known fact by now

[badz149]

can you blame them? they are paying for a service and are using it to the fullest. if you aren't a picky gamer and don't really care about new releases unless they are offered on the service you're paying into, you tend not to buy anything else.

[S2Killinit]

Yup, and if they buy a couple games a year outside it, they will be paying more for gaming than they would normally. After the price increase they might be paying more without buying anything.

[lelo2play]

The same thing's happening to movies. A lot of people don't go to cinemas any more... they'll just wait for the movie on streaming.

[Tapani]

I would presume the PS4 sales are much higher than all Xbox sales combined. Look forward to playing this, maybe in 2-3 years when I finally have time lol

[lelo2play]

Metaphor ReFantazio has poor sales on both Xbox and PS5... Most of their sales are likely from PC.

[BehindTheRows]

Provide a source that shows this.

[MrBaskerville]

@BehindTheRows
-Insert Metal Gear Rising meme-

[NotoriousWhiz]

I wouldn't say it has poor sales on PS (though is definitely poor on Xbox) but all indicators are pointing to PC being it's strongest market. It's apparently #19 for best selling games on PSN. And #64 for Amazon is definitely not great.

[anast]

It is.

[z2g]

uhh if you actually put your reading glasses on instead of your fanboy glasses, it says "CONSOLES" (plural). They mention Xbox bc its... wait for it... an xbox site talking about specifically xbox...... reading is hard I guess.

[repsahj]

Tsk! Xbox fans plead for a JRPG on their system but will never buy them.

[JEECE]

In fairness, over the last few years they have been conditioned to expect any JRPGs they get to be on Gamepass. Not that they really bought JRPGs anyway. Lol in the 360 era devs were tripping over themselves to try to establish JRPGs there and it never worked out. Even when FF13 launched in 2010 when the 360 was dominating PS3 in sales in the US, the PS3 version outsold the 360 version almost 2-1. And that was a JRPG designed for a broader audience (some would even dispute the JRPG label).

https://www.gematsu.com/201...

[jwillj2k4]

They plead for FREE JRPG’s they cant get jiggy with spending money on games.

[InUrFoxHole]

Why would you buy it if it's on the subscription service you pay for? That's why the devs make deals. Why is this a hard concept to follow?

[MrBaskerville]

@InUrFoxHole
But it isn't on gamepass

[NotoriousWhiz]

Xbox gamers spend money on very few types of games. Sparking Zero, Undisputed, and that college football game were big sellers. RPG games just won't be.

[TheNamelessOne]

Every major jrpg released seems to have thousands of user reviews on xbox, no matter if it came to gamepass or not, and being that you need to own the game to review, and not every owner is going to review a game, that tells me plenty of Xbox players actually do play and support jrpgs.

[MDTunkown]

Probably waiting for game pass

[blackblades]

Speaking of, havent heard much of game pass in awhile then again ive been minding own business more.

[StoneTitan]

They are all awaiting the COD release, if that one fails, its game over for gamepass

[theindiearmy]

COD is already out. No one should be waiting for that anymore.

[Charlieboy333]

Xbox players don't buy games

[LOGICWINS]

Xbox player here. I can confirm this is true. Yakuza and COD are my two favorite gaming franchises at the moment. Now that I can get them both on Game Pass, have little incentive buy games a la' carte unless something I really want comes out.

[The Wood]

An honest guy. Some just don't want to admit the 'wait for gamespass' affect is real.

[WiiU-Dude]

Actually I have bought nearly everyone on Xbox in spite of them being on Gamepass because they were and are often on sale for just $4.99.

[MrBaskerville]

If that's the case for most xbox gamers, that would mean that they really aren't interested in jrpgs. Considering this is widely recognized as the best jrpg of the year.

All things considered, this isn't surprising. Die hard fans of japanese games probably don't buy an xbox for that stuff, because why would you? Sega is only being loyal to xbox because they get paid. They probably know that their rpgs will do way better on every other platform imaginable.

[MDTunkown]

Why Microsoft didn’t predicted that day one pass would kill the sales and revenue of games ?

[MetroidFREAK21]

Are we surprised?

[sagapo]

Did you read the article? It sits at p15 in US charts for both Xbox and PS. P24 in UK (xbox) and p16 in UK (PS).

[andy85]

That doesn't say sales so it can still disappoint...

[MetroidFREAK21]

Ok

[andy85]

Well based on the fact that all the marketing was for Xbox and it's still sold poorly when they complain about having no JRPGs I'm guessing

[bartfart]

Yeah but final fantasy is gonna sell like crazy on Xbox..... 🤦🏼🤦
27996;

[VersusDMC]

Well at least Atlus got the microsoft exclusive marketing deal money and it's still selling well elsewhere. Win win.

[jznrpg]

It’s more like a win/draw. A win win would be selling well everywhere. Marketing deals aren’t going to replace sales.

[VersusDMC]

It wasn't going to sell well on xbox regardless...at least they got the marketing deal. And i bet Microsoft paid a premium to outbid Sony for it.

[jznrpg]

No way! Who didn’t see this coming? I’m so shocked.

[sagapo]

Read the article. P15 in US charts for both Xbox and PS. Still shocked?

[andy85]

@sagapo got a link to the chart because I'd be interested to see that. Also, unless it says the actual sales it's a moot point. Ignoring the obviously hyperbole it could have sold 5000 on XB and 500k on PS and still chart the same

[sagapo]

@ andy; djeezes, it's right in the article;

"But on console, it looks like the marketing has so far struggled to make a big impact for Xbox and Atlus. While Metaphor: ReFantazio heads the Japanese Top Paid charts, it has only managed P15 in the US chart (behind other new releases such as Undisputed, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, New World: Aeternum and Starship Troopers: Extermination)
In the UK it’s even more stark, with the likes of Squirrel with a Gun and Heavy Cargo: Truck Simulator beating it (Metaphor is in P24 in the UK." This is xbox.

"Comparing with PlayStation directly, it’s currently P6 in Japan, P15 in the US and P16 in the UK for digital sales, so things do appear to be on the soft-side overall. However, with 91% of Xbox games now sold digitally compared to 78% on PlayStation, you would expect the Xbox version to be at least ahead." This is PS

So sales numbers, no, ok.
But why would p15 on xbox be poor and p15 on PS be much better if there are no sales numbers mentioned in the article anyway? P15 may be different saleswise per platform like you state, true, but the article doesn't show salesnumbers.

This aside, it suprises me the game doesn't get higher on the charts tho, console platform aside, it had very good reviews.

[Knushwood Butt]

'But why would p15 on xbox be poor and p15 on PS be much better if there are no sales numbers mentioned in the article anyway?'.

Because nobody buys games on xbox.

[andy85]

@sagapo but where is the the actual chart because I cant find it. Just some comments about the numbers with no link to the chart for proof. It doesn't seem to be on the internet. And it could simply be poor on Xbox because they don't really buy that many games.

[sagapo]

@andy: if you mean the source this article is based on, then honestly, no clue.
Which makes another point clear here: Sony fans laugh at Xbox with this article ( or should I say just reading the title) based on what then?

[Hofstaderman]

Why XBOX can't have nice things....

[MDTunkown]

XBOX can’t have nice things because its CEO are always focused on something else besides games. Hey let’s make Xbox the media hub, let’s make kinnect a thing more expensive that whole Wii, let’s make ddr console, let’s make cloud crackdown, let’s buy studios and then destroy them.

[franwex]

That was 10 years ago…

[Bathyj]

And they've been terrible all that time.

[TriniOutsider]

I dont know what people were expecting. JRPG's do terrible on Xbox consoles.

Plus the game isn't on Game Pass.

[Traecy]

Not surprising in the slightest. Just imagine those FFXVI sale numbers on XB. LOL!

[ravens52]

Its just funny cause some Xbot streamers been calling this Xbox goty. Also some have said how it's success is good for Xbox... Come to find out Xbox has little to do with its success. 🤦🏽

[gold_drake]

really, who would have thought that.

anime inspired games failing on xbox, STAP IT

[Exvalos]

If its not on gamepass xbox guys are not buying it. There trained to wait for gamepass.

[TheColbertinator]

I won't play any game on Xbox unless it is on Game Pass.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Proves the point too is crazy 🤪

[ravens52]

🤯🤯🤯

[plmkoh]

Yeah you can really see it live in the scalper market. There's 2 Xbox copies old, one above retail price and one below. Then there are 100+ PS5 copies sold all sold 2-3x the retail price.

[NotoriousWhiz]

Why would anyone pay above retail? Isn't the game still available in stores at MSRP?

[Yi-Long]

I try to buy single-player games on physical. I think many gamers do, or at least want to.

Less and less stores are selling physical Xbox games these days. In Japan you would have huge sections in plenty of stores selling Switch & Playstation games, and then a tiny section for Xbox. In Hong Kong, same thing. Even here in Holland it’s increasingly rare to find a store carrying Xbox games.

If Microsoft is so concerned about games not selling for their system, maybe they should make an effort to have a decent presence in stores where people can actually buy their games.

[Knushwood Butt]

Pretty sure most Japanese stores don't have an xbox section. I was in Geo yesterday and didn't notice an xbox section (although to be honest I didn't look for one). Saw plenty of Switch and Playstation though.

Also, they had Skull and Bones on PS5 for 480 Yen, lol.

[obidanshinobi]

I always buy physical when possible.
1, it's generally cheaper, you can always get a boxed copy from some retailler less than the online store price.
2, you can trade it in for cash or credit once you completed / finished with it.
3, you can loan it to mates.
4, you actually own it, not just some online license or whatever.
5, a boxed copy may become a collectable and therefore make you a tidy profit in the future if you sell it.

The only benefit of digital is that you don't have to go to a store and buy it or have it delivered, that's it, you're essentially paying a lot more for convenience. And to me that's just lazy.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Are we surprised? Nope 🙅‍♂️

[Docmortem]

why buy any game for full price on release? Plus ATLUS has a bad track record when it comes to dlc ... Usually you have to buy the game again as soon as the last chapter releases ... It is the reason why I never got to know the last character in Persona 5 because royal was a complete new version not just an addon ... So for ATLUS games ... wait 3-6 months

[EvilCalvin]

I assume this is physical only. Xbox gamers mainly buy digital. Sorry Sony ponies, find another way to bash Xbox.

[RiseNShine]

Dissappoints and Xbox come frequently in the same phrase for some reason.

[Elantregaless]

Atlus which mostly made Playstation exclusives now puts a game on another platform and it sells rather poorly.
Water is wet.

[ironmonkey]

Losing streak continues. This Just in, pressing x in sea of thieves is up 90% according to Microsoft.

[isarai]

I mean XBox players dont buy games, and they have a history of not buying JRPGs, so it's got 2 huge hurdles working against it.

[z2g]

Too all the ppl having trouble sounding out all the words in the article, it says "ALL CONSOLES" so you can go ahead and put your Sony praise back in the drawer. It says "Xbox" cuz wait for it... its an Xbox oriented website talking about xbox specific things...

are gamers really this annoying these days? The comment sections are a laughable joke on these sites. Most people seem to have the perspective and knowledge of a 9 year old.... Not unlike American politics.

[ZeekQuattro]

Plenty of blame to to around. Microsoft for conditioning it's users to join a subscription service over buying games. But also game studios that have a haphazard Xbox platform release schedule. You can't keep skipping Xbox platforms and then wonder why down the road no one is buying your games when you decide to share. You got to build a fanbase on platform with a steady flow of games.