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NPD Sales Results for March 2016

Given how much leadership has changed at Xbox since the Xbox One was released (and even Microsoft have had big changes), if say Don was still in charge, Marc Whitten, Phil Harrison, Phil Spencer Yusuf Mehdi were all at the forefront i'd probably still be considering it a disaster.

But a lot of those have left or in the case of Yusuf he seems to be doing several things at a time, they've shuffled new people in and reacted about as well as they can do. The pricing thing is interesting because yes the price has dropped $200 but they also got there by unbundling Kinect which also saves them a lot of manufacturing, so they havent been swallowing $200.

I think they have pulled back their situation pretty well well but they are limited in how far that can go - hence new box etc.

I'm not sure Phil (Spencer), Shannon Loftis, Kudo (before he moved back off to Hololens), Mike Ybarra and Aaron Greenberg will probably find it all that constructive to still be sitting around in 2016 calling it a disaster on a box they didn't design, probably more focused on making the most of what they have got and looking at how they can avoid the obvious mistakes they made again.

They obviously aren't in the position they would want to be in, I think they'll take some comfort that they aren't as far back in UK/NA as they could be, could be a lot worse...
 
I'm not sure Phil (Spencer), Shannon Loftis, Kudo (before he moved back off to Hololens), Mike Ybarra and Aaron Greenberg will probably find it all that constructive to still be sitting around in 2016 calling it a disaster on a box they didn't design, probably more focused on making the most of what they have got and looking at how they can avoid the obvious mistakes they made again.
I agree, but Nadella and stakeholders will also think deeply how to avoid these mistakes happening once more.
 
I agree, but Nadella and stakeholders will also think deeply how to avoid that happening once more.

They will and thats completely fair. Panos Panay is overseeing all premium hardware at MS now, so not having that insular group at Xbox as the only people designing a box could be good for them.
 

Ryng_tolu

Banned
Hey!

Just realised Twilight Princess is the #4 bigger Wii U game first NPD.

Launch NPD:

1) Super Smash Bros. U = 710,000
2) Super Mario Maker = 445,000
3) Mario Kart 8 = 415,000
4) Twilight Princess HD > 308,000


Twilight Princess is OVER 308,000, cause i mean retail + digital. The TOP 3 indeed is including both digital and retail, while Zelda is retail alone.
 

The God

Member
That rang a bell. Thank you and wikipedia.
Spencer really is deserving his salary. Should be hard defending corporate policies that might be against your own opinion or the good of your own division.

We'll see. It still is unknown who had the idea first, who has bigger interest (maybe the one who wants to sell 4k TVs) and who is faster and more concentrated in development.

Reading certain posts here it sounds like they were caught off guard, so I'm guessing they caught on to whatever Sony was doing. First PS4K mentioned hearing about an upgraded Xbox as well.
 

ZSaberLink

Media Create Maven
Hm, dang, it's hard to know.

I guess we can start with what it's definitely below:

NSMBU, Nintendoland (due to bundles I would think), MK8, Smash, and 3D World I believe.

Seems like that's it.

Wheras in Japan it's above Smash and 3d World.

In Japan, Splatoon is the best selling Wii U game there with limited bundling. Period. In the US it's behind those tentpoles and Mario Maker (MM hit 1M before Splatoon did in the US).


Also that's just incredible...

3DS 2014
January - 97,000
February - 153,000
March - 159,000
Q1 - 409,000

3DS 2016
January -70,000
February - 176,000
March - 171,000
Q1 - 417,000

Good year 2016 so far. :)
That's pretty impressive. I guess all those RPGs are helping.
 
Reading certain posts here it sounds like they were caught off guard, so I'm guessing they caught on to whatever Sony was doing. First PS4K mentioned hearing about an upgraded Xbox as well.
We just don't know.
I have no idea if one of them started it and the other followed or if both started at the same time because it was such a logical move.
I just think that it would have been better kept secret as long as possible. That's what E3 would have been for.
And only because Spencer did what he does best doesn't mean they will come out first (or at all). It means nothing.
 
I love that we have two options... "thrilled" or "disaster". Keeps things simple.
Serious question: Do you think Microsoft enters fields like video games consoles just to be distant second place? Do you think they're happy with where they are with Xbox given their company's aggressive strategies in other areas ("embrace, extend, extinguish") and given the market share they enjoyed last generation? I mean yes Xbox One isn't a disaster in the same way that, say, the Ouya was a disaster. But I still feel comfortable calling it a disaster looking at the big picture. I guess the proof will be in the pudding if/when then we see another traditional Xbox console, or not.
 

Bgamer90

Banned
The Xbox One's performance in the US is a disaster to what it could have been if MS didn't fuck up.

The XB1 would be doing much more than what the PS4 is doing now.

Yeah, % of Microsoft consoles sold in US this gen is pretty much the same as it was last gen during this same point (~35% after third Holiday season if I remember correctly).

They definitely could have been over 50% in the US if they didn't make so many mistakes in 2013.
 

Ryng_tolu

Banned
Well since i'm bored, i wanna already talk about April NPD. In particular about Bravely second since no one talked about this...

I remember back in 2014 when many guys were surprised Bravely Default outsold Fire Emblem Awakening by a small margin. ( 180,000 VS 200,000 )

...With this new battle, Bravely Second VS Fire Emblem Fates, i honestly believe Bravely Second will barely sell more than 1/4 of Fates lol... Ok maybe 1/3 with luck.

I just expect something like >100K at retail, and a bit more including digital.
 
With Sony not goofing, I actually don't think MS would have been in too much of a different position in US. In a better position, sure, but not by a notable margin.
 

Bgamer90

Banned
With Sony not goofing, I actually don't think MS would have been in too much of a different position in US. In a better position, sure, but not by a notable margin.

I disagree. Sony definitely would have done better in the US this gen but the 360 was seen as the "default" core gaming console in the US last gen. Nintendo took such a huge drop that I think the XB1 would have been close to or slightly over 50% if MS didn't make so many mistakes.

I forgot what the split was for PS3 vs. 360 in the US last gen but it definitely wasn't what we see now with PS4 vs. XB1 in US (no huge advantage; similar split to SNES vs. Genesis). Also, part of the reason why the split is like this now is due to the 360 doing so well in the US.

MS ruined what they could have gained here during this current gen back in 2013.
 

Ryng_tolu

Banned
DS3 and The Division will be top 2 and maybe GTA as 3? I don't know. I guess R&C could creep in at 4 with QB at 5 and I don't know what Star Fox Zero will do.

Edit - Sorry for double.

TOP 3

#1 Dark Souls 3
#2 The Division
#3 Grand Theft Auto V

I believe this is a safe bet. The rest, eh, we will see. I honestly see both Quantum Break and ReC out of TOP 5...
 
TOP 3

#1 Dark Souls 3
#2 The Division
#3 Grand Theft Auto V

I believe this is a safe bet. The rest, eh, we will see. I honestly see both Quantum Break and ReC out of TOP 5...
Minecraft was 10th. There might be a chance it misses the charts in May.
R&C will be higher than QB and in the Top 5.
just my guess.
 

Ryng_tolu

Banned
Minecraft was 10th. There might be a chance it misses the charts in May.
R&C will be higher than QB and in the Top 5.
just my guess.

My money on Quantum Break.

It has one week more than Ratchet and clank, and has a nice bundle too... that's why i believe it will do more. But not by a big margin.

I think ReC will do good for a remake, and i also expect good legs.

Maybe it can chart in the TOP 5, guess we will see.
 
My money on Quantum Break.

It has one week more than Ratchet and clank, and has a nice bundle too... that's why i believe it will do more. But not by a big margin.

I think ReC will do good for a remake, and i also expect good legs.

Maybe it can chart in the TOP 5, guess we will see.

The bundle won't count towards NPD though even will probably still get numbers.

Division will still be #1

Yeah I don't see Dark Souls 3 at #1. It probably would be if PC sales were included, but they are not.
 

Dargor

Member
I disagree. Sony definitely would have done better in the US this gen but the 360 was seen as the "default" core gaming console in the US last gen. Nintendo took such a huge drop that I think the XB1 would have been close to or slightly over 50% if MS didn't make so many mistakes.

I forgot what the split was for PS3 vs. 360 in the US last gen but it definitely wasn't what we see now with PS4 vs. XB1 in US (no huge advantage; similar split to SNES vs. Genesis). Also, part of the reason why the split is like this now is due to the 360 doing so well in the US.

MS ruined what they could have gained here during this current gen back in 2013.

The only reason MS had such a huge advantage in the US was because Sony released the PS3 one year later, costing 600 US DOLLARS and with shortages due to the complex nature of its building components.

And yet,they still outsold the 360 for every year they were actively on the market,catching up with a 10M gap.

If all of that handnt transpired, last gen would have been just like this one. PS3 selling better than the 360 everywhere.

Thats pretty much what everyone thinks, Sony lost last gen due to their own mistakes.
 

Regiruler

Member
I'm back from school.

tumblr_nkvm0t3d4s1u1ry24o1_400.gif


Now, Welfare. You'r new avatar since now to 1 May 2016.

CgFXDe-W8AETO1e.jpg:large
You are a sick, sick man.
 

Bgamer90

Banned
The only reason MS had such a huge advantage in the US was because Sony released the PS3 one year later, costing 600 US DOLLARS and with shortages due to the complex nature of its building components.

And yet,they still outsold the 360 for every year they were actively on the market,catching up with a 10M gap.

If all of that handnt transpired, last gen would have been just like this one. PS3 selling better than the 360 everywhere.

Thats pretty much what everyone thinks, Sony lost last gen due to their own mistakes.

I agree that the PS3 would have done much better if it weren't for its price. It wasn't the only reason why the system struggled in the US but it definitely played a big role.

Sony during the PS2 gen was more dominant in the US than MS was with the Xbox 360 in the US.
 

FelipeMGM

Member
I also think that R&C will beat QB because its a game that has more retail appeal. It has the movie and a great price tag on the shelves. Plus PS4 install base of course

QB on the other hand had a huge digital push with its pre-order bonuses and also has a bundle.
 
I also think that R&C will beat QB because its a game that has more retail appeal. It has the movie and a great price tag on the shelves. Plus PS4 install base of course

QB on the other hand had a huge digital push with its pre-order bonuses and also has a bundle.

Quantum Break's big digital push is very interesting. A linear game like that is the sort i'd say would not generally have a good digital attach rate (20% average so half that? I don't know) but with the way they pushed pre-orders: Windows 10 code, Alan Wake's American Nightmare + Alan Wake (latter two counted at retail too admittedly but AN codes went out earlier) I wonder where that puts it.

I doubt it really hit higher than the average at best though, although perhaps I am underestimating it?
 

Ryng_tolu

Banned
Yeah, 200,000 for ReC seem huge. I believe it will be >150,000 or something like this, but i really don't know.

I will wait the PAL chart.

I had to look up vore. I have no idea how that is even a thing.

You'r problem is that you just googled it, saw some imagine, and stop.
That's not how this work. Those first imagine sucks even for me lol.

Vore is a psychological thing, hard to expain... anyway, dunno what you saw, but most likely is part of what i hate from vore. I'm not THAT guy.
 
Serious question: Do you think Microsoft enters fields like video games consoles just to be distant second place? Do you think they're happy with where they are with Xbox given their company's aggressive strategies in other areas ("embrace, extend, extinguish") and given the market share they enjoyed last generation? I mean yes Xbox One isn't a disaster in the same way that, say, the Ouya was a disaster. But I still feel comfortable calling it a disaster looking at the big picture. I guess the proof will be in the pudding if/when then we see another traditional Xbox console, or not.

I don't care what one console does versus another. And I don't know what Microsoft's internal goals were or are, so I don't know the answers to your questions.

A disaster in the market, particularly the US market, is the Dreamcast, or the Jaguar, or the Vita. Those are disasters. The Xbox One certainly isn't a roaring success, but it's also not on the same level as some other consoles that suffered abject failure. A console that sees growth versus the prior version and significant market share isn't a disaster.

There might not be another traditional console from any manufacturer, and there certainly may not be another one from Microsoft. This thing may have (and Matt infers certainly has) failed to meet expectations.

But failing to meet expectations and being the Jaguar are certainly two different things, wouldn't you agree?
 

Sterok

Member
Hard to believe that good reviews would push Ratchet beyond 150K, though I'd love for that to happen. Which leads to the other factor, how much will the movie help? Lego Jurassic World was helped last year by the movie, but that's in a completely separate league.
 
But failing to meet expectations and being the Jaguar are certainly two different things, wouldn't you agree?
They're very different, but that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't both "disasters". That term is not an absolute one, it's arbitrary. Thus it's strongly related to expectation, I'd argue. A Ferrari that goes 0-60 in 11 seconds has disastrous performance; a Prius with that same stat does not.

Microsoft hasn't run the Xbox division in the red this gen (as far as we know), plus their sales are only slowly starting to lag the 360. Hence, the gut feeling is to say they're doing okay. But I guarantee you no one at the company thinks that. They've failed to capitalize and expand on their 360 success. And they've given up on billions of dollars in profit on the way to that lackluster performance.
 
Hard to believe that good reviews would push Ratchet beyond 150K, though I'd love for that to happen. Which leads to the other factor, how much will the movie help? Lego Jurassic World was helped last year by the movie, but that's in a completely separate league.

Why is so hard to believe? It's a well-known IP with great reviews on a platform with large install base that has not had a big exclusive in a while. Plus it is $40...I think people are underestimating how much that might help sales. And as I predicted I think it is benefiting greatly from the latest Uncharted 4 delay.

Quantum Break > R&C.

No doubt about that.

Avatar bet? I'm getting close to proposing one!
 

Loris146

Member
R&C is doing good on Amazon.com ( means almost nothing i know but it's the only "indicator" we have at the moment). It's 24 on the yearly chart.
 
Whatever term you use the Xbone is a huge disappointment. We'll have to see but I feel confident it will fall well short of the 360s lifetime sales in the US. Worldwide it won't Ben be a contest. Meanwhile their main competitor has seen a massive growth in market share.

It's an awful position to be in. They're going backwards in market share and not really making much if any money. On the other hand Sony is in a fantastic position and I can only see things moving further in their favour.

It may not be a jaguar level failure but I still think disaster is a pretty accurate term. It looked like MS had the potential to be the market leader. Now they're a distant second with quite a poor outlook IMO. They've went from making significant profits to not making any as well.

I don't know where they go from here. If the NX performs well I feel that only makes the situation worse.
 

Loris146

Member
Whatever term you use the Xbone is a huge disappointment. We'll have to see but I feel confident it will fall well short of the 360s lifetime sales in the US. Worldwide it won't Ben be a contest. Meanwhile their main competitor has seen a massive growth in market share.

It's an awful position to be in. They're going backwards in market share and not really making much if any money. On the other hand Sony is in a fantastic position and I can only see things moving further in their favour.

It may not be a jaguar level failure but I still think disaster is a pretty accurate term. It looked like MS had the potential to be the market leader. Now they're a distant second with quite a poor outlook IMO. They've went from making significant profits to not making any as well.

I don't know where they go from here. If the NX performs well I feel that only makes the situation worse.

This is a BIG if anyway.
 
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