We can criticize annual releases like Call of Duty and FIFA, among others, all we want, but can’t deny that they sell well. The familiarity that these brands possess and how they continue to deliver mostly the same experience year in and year out make them sell well every year. So, when a game even comes close to approaching the sales figure of a Call of Duty or FIFA game, it’s always a big deal. This is exactly what has happened with Elden Ring, FromSoftware’s latest outing.
FromSoftware, the same studio behind the Darksouls franchise as well as offshoots like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Bloodborne, is known for making challenging but fair titles. Although its projects get a lot of recognition from gamers and outside of the gaming community, FromSoftware’s titles aren’t exactly what you’d call best-sellers. Case in point, Bloodborne, which many consider one of the best games of all time, only sold 2 million units on the PS4 since hitting the market in 2015.
Because Bloodborne and other games from FromSoftware tend to alienate gamers who aren’t so keen on getting their behinds handed to them more often than not, they don’t sell nearly as well as other games that might not even be as good.
In comparison, the highly controversial game, Cyberpunk 2077, sold nearly double on the PS4 in a little over a year.
Having said that, Elden Ring’s director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, explained earlier this year that Elden Ring will be much more accessible to gamers. Even if our beginner’s guide for Soulsborne newbies suggests otherwise, it appears that the sales figure speaks for themselves.
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Elden Ring is the biggest UK video game launch in years, more than doubling Horizon: Forbidden West.
GI adds that Elden Ring has sold the most of any game in the UK since Red Dead Redemption 2 in October 2018, at least outside of Call of Duty and FIFA installments. This means that Elden Ring sold more than Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, two of the best-selling games during the COVID-19 pandemic era.
We’ll have to wait for BANDAI Namco and FromSoftware to confirm the international sales figures, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Elden Ring sold just as well in other markets. Elden Ring was a critical darling in the days leading up its launch and has only become even more popular since. It should end up outselling every other FromSoftware title before it, which is no small feat.
As further testament to how successful Elden Ring has become, George R.R. Martin, who had a hand in crafting the game’s lore, even penned a blog post celebrating the occasion.
Having said that, don’t let the hype gaud you into buying Elden Ring. As we’ve clarified already, it’s not any easier than other Soulsborne titles. But, if you insist, we do recommend checking out our class guide so you’re not heading into the game blind.
