Starfield is the #5 biggest launch in Europe of 2023, biggest Xbox launch of the gen

[Himura Kenshin]

Not by a long shot. Broadly, short-term/console Early Access as an incentive does not allow people to purchase the game earlier than they would otherwise.

Who said it did? It allows them to play the game earlier. Nobody said anything about purchasing the game earlier.

 

[Stranger]

Who said it did? It allows them to play the game earlier. Nobody said anything about purchasing the game earlier.

... this thread is about launches, which span from the software's release date -wherein it becomes generally available for consumption- to the end of a standardized tracking period. Whether certain consumers can, as an incentive, play the game earlier does not change that.

The metric of a launch used for the charts is purchases. If it were more encompassing and the data were available, modern subscription mechanisms would affect the listings, elevating certain titles accordingly, but that isn't the case.

 

[Himura Kenshin]

... this thread is about launches, which span from the software's release date -wherein it becomes generally available for consumption- to the end of a standardized tracking period. Whether certain consumers can, as an incentive, play the game earlier does not change that.

Yes, which is precisely why Chris rightly mentioned that the game's launch isn't like-for-like as it had several extra days of sales due to an incentivized early access period.

 

[Stranger]

Yes, which is precisely why Chris rightly mentioned that the game's launch isn't like-for-like as it had several extra days of sales due to an incentivized early access period.

I'm not making a point about Chris, who simply presents the data for the most part and isn't acting or making a statement with ulterior motives. In this case, he's not actually correct on that matter, as various other versions of the game were available for purchase during that period and prior- much like pretty much every other game on the list before their actual launches by way of preorders and some instances of EA. He is, however, correct in noting that the Game Pass data is unaccounted for. GSD stands for Games Sales Data, and the method of tracking is in the name. It may or may not change, but it's precisely the relevant metric where this topic is concerned on all fronts.

 

[Himura Kenshin]

I'm not making a point about Chris, who simply presents the data for the most part and isn't acting or making a statement with ulterior motives. In this case, he's not actually correct on that matter,

You say you're not making a point about Chris, only to then go on to say he's not correct.

as various other versions of the game were available for purchase during that period and prior- much like pretty much every other game on the list before their actual launches by way of preorders and some instances of EA.

Not every game on the list had several extra days of sales due to an early access launch period, which is clearly the point he made.

 

[AuroraMusisAmica]

The more people who play, the more the modding community gets involved. Can't wait to see what the future holds for this game.

Posh mudcrabs when?

 

[Stranger]

You say you're not making a point about Chris, only to then go on to say he's not correct.

Yes. I was not making a point about Chris but about those who'd use such a position to diminish the sales numbers with a red-herring distinction. However, he's also incorrect despite no apparent ill intent.

Not every game on the list had several extra days of sales due to an early access launch period, which is clearly the point he made.

I don't know if you're reading my responses and posts selectively or if you're being disingenuous. Not a SINGLE game in the list has ANY extra days of sale due to EA, because that's not what short-term/console EA does.

Not by a long shot. Broadly, short-term/console Early Access as an incentive does not allow people to purchase the game earlier than they would otherwise. The presentation of EA as having that effect or being notable in tracking implies an unfair advantage that doesn't exist. The launch period itself is unaffected or shifted and the attempt at framing it in that manner by extending the number of days that encompass the launch in terms of the EA is a red-herring that implies something that isn't true. Pre-purchases of software are rolled over to being a part of initial sales numbers, and this kind of EA falls within that bracket.

Regarding tracking based on days inclusive of EA specifically is not functional and is, in fact, arbitrarily selective. If you want to extend back in that manner, you'd have to add the start of a game's preorder period to the tracking for launch to be level and fully encompassing, which is -as an aside- also variable and non-uniform despite you regarding the playing field as level on that front.

Chris attempted to note some distinctions, of which one included an inaccurate perspective. I have no positive or negative regard of note for him in this particular matter.

 

[Phenom08]

Im confused, if EA doesn't allow the software to be purchased earlier, what's the difference between EA and a demo?

 

[Himura Kenshin]

Yes. I was not making a point about Chris but about those who'd use such a position to diminish the sales numbers with a red-herring distinction. However, he's also incorrect despite no apparent ill intent.

I mean, so you are making a point about Chris. Surely you see the confusion. "I'm not making a point about Chris, but Chris is incorrect."

I don't know if you're reading my responses and posts selectively or if you're being disingenuous. Not a SINGLE game in the list has ANY extra days of sale due to EA, because that's not what short-term/console EA does.

Chris attempted to note some distinctions, of which one included an inaccurate perspective. I have no positive or negative regard of note for him in this particular matter.

Then maybe you should tweet Chris and ask him to clarify he statement, because he clearly says the game did have several extra days of sales. As this is his profession, I'll take his word over yours, but happily change my opinion on the matter if he acknowledges he misspoke.

 

[Stranger]

Im confused, if EA doesn't allow the software to be purchased earlier, what's the difference between EA and a demo?

purchase=/=play

Early Access allows you to play the game before launch for a particular length of time, conventionally as an incentive for purchasing a more expensive version of the game or as a preorder bonus for example. A demo can be openly available and unrelated to purchases or in some cases another sort of preorder incentive, but that's not usually how it's done.

I mean, so you are making a point about Chris. Surely you see the confusion. "I'm not making a point about Chris, but Chris is incorrect."

No. You're dragging Chris into this as a particular and specific party, not me. You're making confusion out of it for yourself. The things you don't quote and even the things you do answer the points you make well enough.

Yes. I was not making a point about Chris but about those who'd use such a position to diminish the sales numbers with a red-herring distinction. However, he's also incorrect despite no apparent ill intent.

If we want to pretend the short term incentive-based Early Access games don't count or are lesser for allowing buyers of a premium version to play before the standard release date, then all sales made through preorder or paid for before the release date shouldn't count toward a launch either. That's obviously not the case. This is us leaving aside the fact that Game Pass titles have expanded engagement parameters that affect what constitutes the size of a launch to begin with. Despite that, such an aspect is not included in a list built on more traditional sales metrics- though it is acknowledged.

Chris has not made a point of bias or an attempt to diminish the game's sales. He does not qualify for any of the posts you've pigeonholed him into. However, his accompanying conclusion is not sound. That is a separate point, and one made in response to you bringing him up in specific.

Then maybe you should tweet Chris and ask him to clarify he statement, because he clearly says the game did have several extra days of sales. As this is his profession, I'll take his word over yours, but happily change my opinion on the matter if he acknowledges he misspoke.

I don't have an interest in appealing to authority or convincing you on basis of someone else's- despite that not applying in this case considering Chris is a journalist and not the actual source of the charts himself or the one who establishes the metrics they are built on. The point regarding EA is a common sense point on its face.

 

[MysticGon]

Very strong performance, for a Game Pass game to boot.

Starfield is the fifth biggest game launch in Europe this year (so far)

Starfield was comfortably No.1 across Europe during its launch week, GSD data shows. The Xbox game, which is also on PC…

www.gamesindustry.biz

Scoring second among the 3 big exclusives even with the install base disparity and Game Pass could indicate a monstrous attach rate on console, a breakout performance on PC or a combination of the two if this is based on unit sales.

If this is based on revenue then the special editions could also be doing a lot of heavy lifting.

It's hard to get excited about a ranked list of names without specifics and indirect comparisons and/or asterisks+qualifiers.

 

[Himura Kenshin]

No. You're dragging Chris into this as a particular and specific party, not me. You're making confusion out of it for yourself. The things you don't quote and even the things you do answer the points you make well enough.

Many things I don't quote because you say many things that don't have anything to do with what I said. Such as...

Chris has not made a point of bias or an attempt to diminish the game's sales.

Who said he did?

He does not qualify for any of the posts you've pigeonholed him into.

What posts have I pigeonholed him into?

However, his accompanying conclusion is not sound.

So again, you say he's incorrect. The only one pigeonholding or doing anything else to him here, is you.

That is a separate point, and one made in response to you bringing him up in specific.

Why wouldn't I bring him up? His information is what this thread is sourced on. He is the one where I'm getting my information about the early access period, which is what my initial statement is based on. He is literally the source of my statement.

I don't have an interest in appealing to authority or convincing you on basis of someone else's- despite that not applying in this case considering Chris is a journalist and not the actual source of the charts himself or the one who establishes the metrics they are built on. The point regarding EA is a common sense point on its face.

So common sense that you got it right and Christopher Dring got it wrong, according to you. If it's such common sense I wonder why Dring is confused and you're not? While you freely admit you're not interested in convincing me I appreciate the effort, I will defer to the professional in this case, however.

 

[romanithegreat]

Do people really believe those of us that preordered the premium edition and got the early access wouldn't have gotten the game lauch day if early access didn't exist? I'm genuinely confused

 

[1st_horseman]

One thing to notice, the list is week one sales comparisons

Is not really the best selling games of 2023.

That’s my understanding from Chris, if that’s true, very strange comparison

So Chris Dring is comparing 12 days of Starfield sales vs. 7 days of other games' sales (like FF16), ignoring the multiple platforms, and declaring it 5th biggest "week one" launch of the year?

Post automatically merged: Sep 18, 2023

that's pretty amazing since we hear so often xbox is completely dead in europe let alone the gamepass factor being insanely massive with this game. it goes to show how a active userbase can overpunch its weight often. i see this all the time in the destiny player numbers, where xbox is much closer to PS than 2:1 ww sales would suggest.

it goes with being that the mainstream console (playstation) will always be somewhat diluted by attracting more casuals.

this line of chris confuses me a bit




yet fh5 is not in the top ten week one launches at all? the wording suggest to me starfield only beat fh5 by a nose. but maybe it's sloppy wording, or it's hard to understand if "just about" means "just"

Starfield is also an PC and PC is strong in EU, isn't it?

Also, more than a week passed and still no 10 million players milestone, huh?

 

[allan-bh]

Expected, Bethesda is very strong on PC and Xbox sales probably were ok too despite gamepass.

 

[Stranger]

Many things I don't quote because you say many things that don't have anything to do with what I said. Such as...

Chris has not made a point of bias or an attempt to diminish the game's sales

Who said he did?

MY position was about those who do by way of implying things about EA that are not valid. Your attempt to insert him into my point despite reiteration, clarification, and noting that he does not qualify in the matter under the terms I set makes YOU then one who says he did.

What posts have I pigeonholed him into?

My own, to which he does not qualify.

So again, you say he's incorrect. The only one pigeonholding or doing anything else to him here, is you.

Why wouldn't I bring him up? His information is what this thread is sourced on. He is the one where I'm getting my information about the early access period, which is what my initial statement is based on. He is literally the source of my statement.

Disingenuous. Bold facedly.

So common sense that you got it right and Christopher Dring got it wrong, according to you. If it's such common sense I wonder why Dring is confused and you're not? While you freely admit you're not interested in convincing me I appreciate the effort, I will defer to the professional in this case, however.

Go ahead and do so. I'm not the one who started this engagement with you, and I've done my due diligence to elaborate despite the run around and ignorance of very clear responses. I don't regard your posts to be in good faith despite the benefit of the doubt and will not engage further on the matter with you.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Also more than a week passed and still no 10 million players milestone, huh?

Massive bomba, amirite?

 

[Himura Kenshin]

MY position was about those who do by way of implying things about EA that are not valid. Your attempt to insert him into my point despite reiteration, clarification, and noting that he does not qualify in the matter under the terms I set makes YOU then one who says he did.

Your position on "things about EA that are not valid" is in direct contradiction to what Chris said on the matter. You know this because you said he's wrong about it. He is inserted into your point because he contradicts your point.

My own, to which he does not qualify.

See above.

Disingenuous. Bold facedly.

Disingenuous to use as a source the very source of this thread? The very source of nearly every UK sales thread on this website? I do see something disingenuous here, and it's not me.

Go ahead and do so. I'm not the one who started this engagement with you, and I've done my due diligence to elaborate despite the run around and ignorance of very clear responses. I don't regard your posts to be in good faith despite the benefit of the doubt and will not engage further on the matter with you.

Your responses are far from clear, are as full of runaround themselves as you claim others to be, and I must also conclude far from good faith.

 

[Mcbel]

Also, more than a week passed and still no 10 million players milestone, huh?

It's weird they didn't announce week 1 # of players, but that doesn't necessarily mean it didn't reach 10 million players.

 

[Stranger]

So Chris Dring is comparing 12 days of Starfield sales vs. 7 days of other games' sales (like FF16), ignoring the multiple platforms, and declaring it 5th biggest "week one" launch of the year?

The number of platforms is not relevant. Every title above Starfield except for Tears of the Kingdom is on more platforms than it. Tears of the Kingdom does not include digital sales and ranks third despite being on one platform and having that data constraint. The number of days is based on the end of weeks, not the number of days a title is on the market in much the same way as other sales charts, so the 7 and 12 day measure is not accurate. Dring is not fudging the numbers or bolstering some titles over others and GSD clearly does not regard the early access period as a part of Starfield's -or any other title's- launch.

 

[Mcbel]

Do we have estimates for first week sales of RE4 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor?

 

[Evilnemesis8]

Do we have estimates for first week sales of RE4 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor?

Resident Evil 4 Sells Over 3 Million Units in First Two Days After Release!

Capcom Co., Ltd. (Capcom) today announced that new title Resident Evil 4 for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and PC has sold over 3 million units worldwide.

www.capcom.co.jp

First week was probably something like 3.5M~

 

[Lelouch0612]

Resident Evil 4 Sells Over 3 Million Units in First Two Days After Release!

Capcom Co., Ltd. (Capcom) today announced that new title Resident Evil 4 for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and PC has sold over 3 million units worldwide.

www.capcom.co.jp

First week was probably something like 3.5M~

Those are the worldwide numbers.

Plus when refering to the "first week" of a game, it usually means sales from launch to Sunday, so in this case 3m.

 

[Megiddo]

Somehow I have doubts that it managed to beat Baldur's Gate 3 in Europe.

 

[Himura Kenshin]

Somehow I have doubts that it managed to beat Baldur's Gate 3 in Europe.

It's unfortunate Larian isn't more forthcoming with sales. Not just in terms of what may or may not have sold more here, which is ultimately a side note, but more so in terms of BG3 is certainly their "Witcher 3" moment and they should be celebrated for it. We may yet still get some numbers in the future, it still has one more platform to hit by the end of this year and possibly Nintendo's successor next year, maybe after that they'll let us celebrate.

 

[Papaupa]

It's unfortunate Larian isn't more forthcoming with sales. Not just in terms of what may or may not have sold more here, which is ultimately a side note, but more so in terms of BG3 is certainly their "Witcher 3" moment and they should be celebrated for it. We may yet still get some numbers in the future, it still has one more platform to hit by the end of this year and possibly Nintendo's successor next year, maybe after that they'll let us celebrate.

I was going to ask why BG3 wasn’t on the list, do they just not share sales at all?

 

[Lelouch0612]

I was going to ask why BG3 wasn’t on the list, do they just not share sales at all?

BG3 is a purely digital release in Europe, so no retail data. Since Larian doesn't share its digital sales to any of the trackers, we are completely blind on its actual performance (beyond Steam CCU).