After the disappointing Final Fantasy 7R sales, how will Part 2 be impacted?

[hrœrekr]

SquareEnix Q1 report shows a disappointing start for FF7Remake.

- In Japan, remake stands with less than <1M (retail) and is out of the Top30 already.
- After the 3.5M WW milestone, Square went silent on the performance (they are usually vocal about milestones).
- The worldwide numbers are not known, but the entire Q1 sales (shipped+digital) for the company are 6.2M. Sell-in numbers for only FF7 are obviously way lower.

Just in comparison:
- In Japan, the original FF7 sold 2M first week and 4M in total.
- Square announced FFXV sold 5M worldwide after 3 days.

Japan Sales:
FW (Famitsu sell through, only retail) / LTD (total sell-in, retail + digital)
[PS1] Final Fantasy VII <RPG> (Square) {1997.01.31} (¥6.800) - 2.034.879 / 4.100.000
[PS1] Final Fantasy VIII <RPG> (Square) {1999.02.11} (¥7.800) - 2.504.044 / 3.700.000
[PS1] Final Fantasy IX <RPG> (Square) {2000.07.07} (¥7.800) - 1.954.421 / 2.900.000
[PS2] Final Fantasy X <RPG> (Square) {2001.07.19} (¥8.800) - 2.034.879 / 3.200.000
[PS2] Final Fantasy X-2 <RPG> (Square) {2003.03.13} (¥7.800) - 1.472.914 / 2.500.000
[PS2] Final Fantasy XII # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2006.03.16} (¥8.990) - 1.840.397 / 2.600.000
[PS3] Final Fantasy XIII # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2009.12.17} (¥8.800) - 1.516.532 / 1.900.000
[PS4/XB1] Final Fantasy XV # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2016.11.29} (¥8.800) - 719.964 / 1.200.000

Last time in the Famitsu Top 30:
27./26. [PS4] Final Fantasy VII Remake # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2020.04.10} (¥8.980) - 1.656 / 932.821

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There is a thread for Square Q1 sales discussion:

Square Enix - Financial Results Q1, FY2021/3

You can consult the documents in these following PDF links: Press Release for the Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2020: https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/pdf/21q1release.pdf Consolidated Financial Results for the Three-Month Period Ended June 30, 2020...

www.resetera.com

Now let's look to the future:
- With a new generation coming, it will take some time until there is a good userbase for PS5 (especially in Japan).
- Split releases tend to sell less at each new installment. If you didn't buy Part 1 there is little incentive to start in the middle of the story.
- Square's big card became a risky project going forward.

Do you think they will ditch the exclusive deal and go for a multi-release?
Will they stay cross-gen to include PS4 and its massive userbase?
Will they hold the project until the PS5 mid-cycle?
Will they include Part 1 with Part 2 package as an incentive to new players?

Or worst case, will they go silent for many years like FFVersus or KH3???

 

[ILikeFeet]

this is was disappointing? you'll never get those japanese numbers back. not unless you make it multiplatform with the switch (and launch it same day). western numbers are fine?

 

[entremet]

Wow, didn't know it did poorly compared to expectations.

 

[Noctis]

overreaction, everything is fine and will be fine.

 

[Raigor]

Disappointing according to you or Square Enix?

They most likely sold close to 4.5 - 5 million copies by now and they got that sweet Sony moneyhat, they are fine.

Won't be surprised if Part 2 is also timed PS5 exclusive.

 

[Deleted member 36578]

This wasn't disappointing op. The second game is well on its way.

 

[RecRoulette]

That's what happens when you start a game with a Bomba Mission.

Honestly though, I feel like every Square-Enix game in the last 10 years has had "disappointing" sales compared to their expectations.

 

[Naga]

Those aren't disappointing sales.

If you're looking at Japan only, the issue is the platform choice, not the game.

 

[Hybrid Rainbow]

This is a joke thread right?

 

[Kazer]

Disappointing? Lol.

Some of y'all really need to think before you make topics.

 

[Y2Kev]

Ooo loaded premise, love it. But good question. You figure sales will decline over time. By part 3 who knows what this will be doing?

 

[Socivol]

It is the #5 top selling PS4 exclusive in the US after three months of availability. Is this a serious topic?

 

[Foot]

Seems like it did well.

 

[Hieroph]

It's the new FF13 trilogy. Expect even more cut corners and weird decisions for the following episodes.

 

[Aurc]

We need Wymer back, we need Narjin back, we need Betty back

 

[Kiria]

Huh? Lmao

 

[TheMadTitan]

3 and a half million is disappointing now? Especially for a game that is clearly going to hit Steam next year and likely double that number in a month?

 

[Masagiwa]

It's gonna be fine in the long run I assume with PC release and other platforms after the timed exclusivity is up.

 

[formasymphonic]

This is a joke thread right?

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actually Its bait thread, and it seems to be successful

 

[Mad_Rhetoric]

It was always going to be niche.

 

[Toumari]

What? Didn't it sell better than FF15 which was multi-platform?

 

[FormatCompatible]

Wait how are those numbers disappointing?

 

[Deleted member 17676]

Disappointing how? It was released on one format and those sales are good for exclusive title.

Next one will probably be crossplay because it makes good business sense not because the sales for this were apparently disappointing for you.

 

[Imran]

They're actually so happy with the sales that it expanded the scope (note: this does not necessarily mean length or number of games) after the first game's release.

 

[Mr.Deadshot]

I thought it was one of the best selling games on PS4?
Well, they will still release it on Xbox One and PC. And then on next-gen. And probably a bundle with the next game. And an Anthology version when all three (?!) games are out. They will probably sell this game over the next 20 years.

 

[Chumunga64]

disappointing? the game sold like hotcakes!

but I am worried about budget cut in the future due to diminishing returns like 13

 

[Septimus]

Lol what a take. Jeez.

 

[entremet]

What? Didn't it sell better than FF15 which was multi-platform?

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No. It's right there in the OP.

FF15 sold a lot. It's very underrated in that respect.

 

[CosmicElement]

FF7R sold very well.

 

[AegonSnake]

It sold more than tlou2 in NA alone.

 

[piratethingy]

It is the #5 top selling PS4 exclusive in the US after three months of availability. Is this a serious topic?

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Wow not even top 3, this may truly be The Final Fantasy /s

 

[CenturionNami]

Bait thread. Trash thread.

 

[Alienhated]

What a bad faith bait thread.

 

[Wolf]

The fact that these numbers are considered "disappointing" to you is an indication of the problem with AAA games these days

 

[lost7]

How does it compare to FFXV in the same timeframe?

 

[Levitates]

maybe launch Part 2 for PC and XBOX too?

 

[Dragoon]

OP, what are you on about mate? The game probably sold 5m, is going to come to the PS5, different Xboxs and PC at a later date which means that it will sell at an absolute minimum around 10m, which is more than most FF games.

 

[JoJo'sDentCo]

I disagree with your premise OP

 

[Jencks]

Part 2 becomes open world for mass appeal, if it isn't already

 

[Oreiller]

That's one dumb take mate.

 

[Curufinwe]

Very reminiscent of the silly narrative about RE7 having disappointing sales.

 

[Ovvv]

It's the new FF13 trilogy. Expect even more cut corners and weird decisions for the following episodes.

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So it'll get better and better with each release?

 

[KOfLegend]

They're actually so happy with the sales that it expanded the scope (note: this does not necessarily mean length or number of games) after the first game's release.

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There it is!

Stop concern trolling. Ridiculous thread.

 

[The Unsent]

2 might do much better, cause of the pandemic. Sorry if this sounds too simplistic.

 

[Hybrid Rainbow]

They're actually so happy with the sales that it expanded the scope (note: this does not necessarily mean length or number of games) after the first game's release.

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Lol We're done here.

 

[Pyro]

That ain't disappointing to SE

 

[Toumari]

No. It's right there in the OP.

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That's only Japan though.

 

[Vault]

they should replace Cloud with Lightning in part 2 to improve sales

 

[Rodney McKay]

It's gonna be fine in the long run I assume with PC release and other platforms after the timed exclusivity is up.

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Yeah, I held off on getting it even though I'm was and still am very excited to play it because I just don't want it on PS4.

If it gets a PC port or at least PS5 enhancements I'm there day one.

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

Disappointing according to you or Square Enix?

They most likely sold close to 4.5 - 5 million copies by now

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Knowing Square Enix, that's almost certainly under-performing by a couple of decimal places.