Gran Turismo 5 is the fifth edition in the long running racing game series by Polyphony Digital. The game sports over 1000 vehicles, damage modeling on race cars, a dedicated television channel, lots of races, 16 player online multiplayer, and active weather.
Sony came out with the press release from Tokyo just now, and the sales are in.
Total sales for Gran Turismo 5 is a little over 5.5 million now, and it should officially be the top selling PS3 exclusive (the previous one was from GT5P). The series has now sold over 60 million total sales worldwide as a whole, so I guess that's alright?
Seriously though, that's pretty impressive, I had wondered if Gran Turismo still had such pulling power or if driving sims were now too much of a niche genre. Nice to see that 6 years of work has paid off to some extent, if only because I'm not one to just capriciously wish failure on people. Still, any idea how much money was funneled into GT5 and if it's turned a profit between GT5P and GT5?
Sounds like it would have done just as well as MS's big exclusive for the year (Halo Reach) did in a similar timeframe, so you'd have to consider it a success, really.
At this point with so much foreplay any number they hit would seem low. But if this game had a normal dev cycle and did these numbers, it would be a clearcut success.
"Still, any idea how much money was funneled into GT5 and if it's turned a profit between GT5P and GT5? "
GT5P sold 5 million units and it was retailing for an average of $40, so at the end PD made $200,000,000 off given best case. Kazu said GT5 cost over 60 million, so it can be safely said that GT5P paid for GT5, and had a lot of extra money left over.
Compared to other games in this genre, how well did it do?
Hmmm I'm honestly surprised it did this well considering I thought enthusiasm for Gran Turismo had gone down but apparently I was mistaken. Also I'm constantly baffled at the amount these games sell. I just don't see the appeal and to me it doesn't seem like something that would be a big mainstream success. Maybe its just a European thing?
To clarify I'm not knocking the game at all just saying its not the kind of game that appeals to me and I don't really know the kind of person it does appeal to.
@triple07: GT5 is the fastest selling GT game to date, not even GT3 and GT4 did this well in their first month...and then it's the issue of GT5 outselling GT5P in 12 days. GT5P has been the PS3's top selling exclusive for years now, and it's gone just like that.
I think PD is very content with the sales, and it'll only grow from here.
But hey, it's like the press has been saying for months...no one cares about GT games. Right?
@KaosAngel: The press is what made me think the GT series had lost popularity since I wasn't really hearing much excitement for it which is weird for a game that is as big as the GT series. Probably just the sites I visit though.
@Mordukai: Maybe your right I figured it was for people who were into basketball.
Also interesting that GT 3 A-Spec is the only one that sold a lot more in America than Europe. Anyone got any idea why that might be?
@triple07: The only reason I can think A-Spec did better in NA was the insanity of PS2 hype. It was MGS2 and GT3 that were fueling it, and it was during Christmas...so I guess it just exploded harder. I remember the chaos of GT3's launch, and seeing people buy that PS2 Bundle like it was crack. -.-
They just talked about this on the bombcast this week or last week. "Sold" means number of copies sold to retailers, "Sold through" means actual number sold. They specifically mentioned Sony as usually quoting the "Sold" number rather than the "Sold through" figure. Obviously it didn't tank, but 5.5m copies of GT5 weren't bought by consumers.
They just talked about this on the bombcast this week or last week. "Sold" means number of copies sold to retailers, "Sold through" means actual number sold. They specifically mentioned Sony as usually quoting the "Sold" number rather than the "Sold through" figure. Obviously it didn't tank, but 5.5m copies of GT5 weren't bought by consumers. "
What difference does it make? Either way, Polyphony got paid.
Another thing to note is that most of these sales are definitely in Japan.
@EVO: The difference is, when these stories are published about how many copies people have bought, saying it's a number higher than what it is based on a technicality like that is giving fractured information. It's the exact same thing Sony did with Move. They said it "sold" 4.1 million a few days ago when in reality those were sold to retailers, and the real "sold through" number was between 2.5 - 3 million.
They just talked about this on the bombcast this week or last week. "Sold" means number of copies sold to retailers, "Sold through" means actual number sold. They specifically mentioned Sony as usually quoting the "Sold" number rather than the "Sold through" figure. Obviously it didn't tank, but 5.5m copies of GT5 weren't bought by consumers. "
What difference does it make? Either way, Polyphony got paid. "
But if you're looking for an indicator of how popular the game was, you want the Sold Through figure.
Also, can retailers return games? I know other items can be sent back from stores and the stores can get a full refund. Does this happen with games?
For a PS3 exclusive that targets a niche audience, I think 5.5 is pretty good. Better than I was expecting, given that I think only crazy people play games this realistic.
Looks like we (over here in Europe) are doing our part; but i don't think GT5 will have to long tail the other games have had. Its not the must have game it used to be.
They just talked about this on the bombcast this week or last week. "Sold" means number of copies sold to retailers, "Sold through" means actual number sold. They specifically mentioned Sony as usually quoting the "Sold" number rather than the "Sold through" figure. Obviously it didn't tank, but 5.5m copies of GT5 weren't bought by consumers. "
What difference does it make? Either way, Polyphony got paid. "
But if you're looking for an indicator of how popular the game was, you want the Sold Through figure. Also, can retailers return games? I know other items can be sent back from stores and the stores can get a full refund. Does this happen with games? "
Under certain circumstances stock can be returned, but almost always at a loss to the retailer. That's why retailers would rather cut the price and get it off the shelf. It's pointless to go down that road with this game though. GT is a popular enough name that all of those copies will sell. Might take a while, but they will sell. Shipping estimations like that aren't made in the dark. They are usually match up pretty close with sell through numbers given their marketing window.
"Still, any idea how much money was funneled into GT5 and if it's turned a profit between GT5P and GT5? "
GT5P sold 5 million units and it was retailing for an average of $40, so at the end PD made $200,000,000 off given best case."
Assuming the disc, packaging and distribution cost nothing and the retailers stocked the game gratis...
The GT5 numbers are sell-in numbers according to the article (as in, shipped to retailers). This is how you end up with EA saying ME2 'sold' 2 million copies in the first week and then only 'sold' 1.6 million copies after three months - the publishers basically set out to mislead people immediately after launch in order to build hype for their game. Everybody does it. I would expect GT5 to actually end up selling those shipped copies eventually though, and probably sooner rather than later.
It is sad to see how hard they worked after all these years but watching the quick look, I just think, "It looks exactly like GT4 with slightly better graphics." Sure, how do you seriously improve a simulation racing game and they tried but I'm just not impressed like I was with GT3 and GT4. Sadly, the amount of time it took them to develop the game made me forget it and move on.
Sony needs their simulation race game though and for those who are looking for it, here it is. I will say, I'm jealous they have the Top Gear track. Curious to see how well I could complete it against the celebrities they have on the show. XD
Sony like to use shipping numbers for its sales figures. But hey, who cares. It still stands that they already got paid for those copies of the games. NPD will show what the true numbers are. Also, reports of Gamestop refusing to take in any more used copies of GT5 do not bode well for the series.
" Thing is, everyone I know who got it is disappointed. The game will be dead, very soon. "
This still baffles me, how is it a disappointment? More cars, better graphics, online, damage, better racing. What is not to like? the menus? I doubt people will hate the menus that much to hate the game.
" Thing is, everyone I know who got it is disappointed. The game will be dead, very soon. "
This still baffles me, how is it a disappointment? More cars, better graphics, online, damage, better racing. What is not to like? the menus? I doubt people will hate the menus that much to hate the game. "
I think some people got it into their heads that after six years in development, nothing less than the best racing game there ever was, is, and ever shall be would suffice. Pressed on a disc made out of solid platinum no less.
nice, that is pretty decent. i think it could have sold more maybe if it didn't get delayed so many times. people got tired so they just didn't get the game.
i'm not surprised that more sold in europe than america. people don't really like that kind of stuff here in america.
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