Update: Days Gone Sales Numbers Likely Lower Than 8 Million After Director Reveals Source Was Site That Tracks Trophies

Replace, 1/7/21:

Yesterday, Recreation Informer reported that Days Gone director Jeff Ross mentioned Bend Studio’s newest recreation bought greater than Ghost of Tsushima, which lately hit a milestone after promoting 8 million copies. Nevertheless, in a current livestream with former God of Struggle and Twisted Steel director David Jaffe, Ross revealed that his supply for the gross sales numbers was a now-defunct web site known as Gamestat, which tracks PlayStation Trophy knowledge, as reported by PushSquare. 

What’s fascinating about that is that trophy knowledge doesn’t essentially translate on to gross sales, which is what Ross seemingly did. That is as a result of gamers which have bought used copies of Days Gone or have performed it as a PlayStation Plus title (neither of which might be tracked as new gross sales) can earn trophies.

The gamers that earned trophies from used copies of Days Gone or the PS Plus model of it will be lumped into the gamers that bought a brand new copy of Days Gone, thus skewing the entire numbers Ross cited as copies bought. So, whereas Days Gone possible did promote tens of millions, the 8 million copies bought (plus 1 million bought on Steam) is probably going not correct and better than the precise quantity. 

Ross additionally clarified that when he mentioned Days Gone was a disappointment to “native studio administration,” he was referring to higher administration inside Bend Studio and never essentially PlayStation or Sony administration. 

The unique story continues under…

Unique Story, 1/6/21:

Days Gone has bought no less than 9 million copies, in accordance with its director. 

Yesterday, Recreation Informer reported that Sucker Punch Productions’ 2020 samurai recreation, Ghost of Tsushima, has bought greater than 8 million copies – fairly the feat, particularly for a brand new IP from the developer. According to former Days Gone director Jeff Ross, the Pacific Northwest zombie title bought much more copies than Ghost of Tsushima however, as an alternative of the nice and cozy reception Ghost of Tsushima obtained for its gross sales, PlayStation seen it as a “massive disappointment.”

This isn’t a essentially stunning sentiment from Ross as others have identified Sony and PlayStation’s awkward PR play for the sport. As famous by Benji-Sales, a preferred online game gross sales and enterprise analyst on Twitter, again in January of 2020, Days Gone was the best-selling PS4 unique on PSN in 2019 and it additionally held a spot within the high 10 best-selling digital video games for the complete yr. Benji-Gross sales even joked that “Sony received’t do PR on the gross sales success of the sport, however I’ll maintain pointing it out for them.” 

Again in April of 2021, Ross alluded to the truth that Days Gone didn’t make sufficient cash to greenlight the sequel Bend pitched to PlayStation, and he additionally shared some particulars on what Days Gone 2 would have been. 

Ross has expressed his disappointment within the the dearth of additional Days Gone growth. There’s most likely one thing to be mentioned of Ross’ departure from the studio following the discharge of Days Gone, which he’s now revealed was seen by native administration (possible native Sony and PlayStation administration) as a “massive disappointment.” 

The previous Bend director touched additional on his preliminary tweet within the replies part, revealing that he’s “undecided” if present Bend builders are sad with administration. In a reply to somebody asking if that’s the case, Ross mentioned “in my case, there were years of issues to work through.” He additionally revealed that the dearth of official gross sales dialogue from Sony and a potential sequel “wasn’t ever explained well,” citing in a distinct tweet that regardless of that, former Sony Interactive Leisure Worldwide Studios chairman Shawn Layden, who left the corporate in 2019, was Days Gone and Bend’s “biggest advocate.” 

Layden even replied to Ross’ tweet final night time, which you’ll be able to see under: 

Elsewhere in Ross’ tweet replies, the Days Gone director reveals that growing Days Gone was not a simple job. 

“Growth was a protracted slog, however we had been a small staff studying tips on how to make our first open world recreation,” he wrote. “All issues thought of, it’s superb we completed in any respect.” 

Ross also notes that simply because Days Gone didn’t assessment in addition to Bend and maybe Sony and PlayStation may need appreciated, the potential for a “kick-ass sequel was there.” He famous that the primary Killzone bought a 70 on Metacritic however that its “sequel roared again with a 91.” Bend was planning to lift eyebrows with a sequel a lot in the identical means, he mentioned, citing that “you gotta crawl earlier than you’ll be able to stroll, and stroll earlier than you’ll be able to run.” 

Ross’ tweets are an enchanting have a look at how PlayStation views its IP, or moderately, maybe how essential crucial reception is to a recreation’s success. Contemplating Days Gone has bought greater than Ghost of Tsushima, the most important distinction between the discharge of each is the critiques: Days Gone has a 71 on Metacritic, a assessment combination web site, and Ghost of Tsushima has an 83. As for why Sony and PlayStation view Ghost of Tsushima a hit and Days Gone a “massive disappointment” will possible proceed to stay a thriller. 

For extra, try our ideas on each video games in Recreation Informer’s Days Gone assessment and Recreation Informer’s Ghost of Tsushima assessment. Examine what Days Gone 2 would have been, together with a “shared universe with co-op play,” after that. 

Did you play Days Gone? What did you consider it? Tell us within the feedback under!