![]() ![]() ![]() Yet, a quick look at the initial UK sales for PS5 launch games shows that multiple titles got off to a relatively strong sales start despite the initial PS5 shortages and the lockdown restrictions which undoubtedly negatively impacted physical sales. ![]() Sony and Microsoft have also suggested that next-gen console shortages will remain a problem for the foreseeable future, which, when combined with COVID-19’s impact on the video game industry, means that the next generation seems to be off to a slower start across the board relative to where it would otherwise be in an “ideal” situation. The PS5 shortage problem (which has only been exasperated by the influence of scalpers) is well-documented, and many people who are willing and able to buy a PS5 at the moment are still unable to do so. Not only was it just released, but it’s a PS5 game and relatively few people own a PS5.” There’s a degree to which that’s certainly true. Now, you’re probably thinking “Of course it hasn’t. Considering that Returnal was released on April 30th, wasn’t heavily marketed, and that these numbers only account for physical purchases, you would probably think that means the game has gotten off to a strong overall sales start. So how is Returnal selling so far? Well, the numbers are incomplete, to say the least, but the UK sales that have been reported so far show that Returnal was the second best-selling game in that region for the week ending on May 1 (it only trailed New Pokémon Snap). Just ask a passionate former member of the Days Gone team how that process tends to play out. After all, it’s hard for a game to become a franchise if it doesn’t sell well, just as it’s hard for developers to stay in the spotlight if their biggest releases don’t do well. Maybe that’s why more people than usual seem to be focused on the game’s sales. Of course, there are some who wonder if Returnal could actually “overcome” its small nature and perhaps even become the next great PlayStation franchise. In case you haven’t heard, Returnal isn’t just one of the first major PS5 releases of 2021 it’s one of the year’s best games and a fascinating project that’s smaller scope and strong creative voice make it the antithesis of the kind of blockbuster games the PlayStation team is reportedly focused on. ![]()
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