Report: Demon's Souls has punished nearly 4 times as many players as expected

by David Hinkle on Apr 14th 2010 2:30PM

It was quite clear, once retailers began requesting re-ups of that dope Demon's Souls product, that publisher Atlus had unleashed a bigger hit than it had anticipated. But just how low had Atlus set its expectations? According to data from parent company Index Holdings (via Siliconera), Atlus had projected a mere 75,000 units in sales of Demon's Souls for North America.

Lo and behold, beyond Atlus' wildest, demonic dreams, folks actually enjoyed the game's masochistic mission -- like, a lot of folks, in fact: sales totaled 280,000 units sold through the end of February. And with sales figures like that, Atlus must be pining for an opportunity to peddle a sequel -- of course, as our commenters point out, Sony, which owns the franchise, might want to get in on the North American push, should there be a sequel. Demon's Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki wouldn't mind cooking up another hit, after all.

Source

Tags: atlus, demons-souls, from-software, index-holdings, sales

Reader Comments (94)

Aww yeah, dont twist my nipples ooohh

If they planned on only 75,000 in sales then I assume they budgeted for that to make a profit. Now, my question is why do many developers have problems making a great game without having to spend so much money?

More importantly, why do they say they need to move at least 400,000 units for most games coming out to even stay in the black? This game seems pretty fully featured and like you said, they were *hoping* for 75,000.

What baffles me is why the game is only recently being dropped in price.

I bet they would hit half a million in no time if they dropped it to $39.99 retail, and then sales would make it a must buy for everyone who owns a PS3.

LOL I love how none of the replies have nothing to do with the OP, but I'll play ball.

Ooooh, they're so tender, don't squeeze them anymore!!!

They just wanted their oppinions to be read on front page.

Also, Mel Gibson in Southpark was amazing.

I'm guessing marketing costs almost just as much as creating games, Demon's Souls marketing budget was non-existent.

Remember these are American sales, not including JP. I'm sure JP sales were WAY higher, as I also know many people imported the JP copy and bought the American.

VGchartz shows Demon's Souls at ~740,000. Is vgchartz completely wrong about sales figures or is this article?

Hopefully that means sequel!

Hopefully it also means a freaking EU release!

The decision and continuation of that decision to not release in the EU smacks of massive idiocy. Or racism. Probably the former.

We won't see an EU release now just import it from america. When the sequel comes out we'll definitely get it though.

Bastards, keep putting off spending £60 on ebay for this, hoping, praying that one day we get an EU release. Never going to happen though

kotaku just announced that the game is coming to Europe this June. so your wait is almost over :) i think Namco Bandai is publishing it.

Fantastic news! Hope they delineate the classes more and give us a bit more story, but more Demon's Souls? Bring it!

It deserves every sale it gets.

...and then some

*goes out and buys*

"Thank you, sir, may I have another"

i never got past the first level... great game though

How can you say "it's a great game" when you didn't even complete the first level? ...which is basically a tutorial for what's to come.

I platinumed the game, I can say this is easily one of the best games of last year. And I'm not even into RPGs or difficult/time consuming games.

He might have decided to go play other titles...even finishing the first few areas feels like an accomplishment (especially when you start with a shit class like Wanderer)...no need to hate on him for not finishing it.

i choose knight? i think not sure but my little brother bought the game and I decided to play it a few times. it really reminded me of memories playing difficult games on the snes and genesis.. ah good times.

I didn't get too far either (maybe three levels in) and then the game just got way too hard for me. On top of that my PS3 got the YLOD so I lost the save. I've promised myself I'll beat it one day.

Sad thing is I have the Deluxe Edition and even with the guide I still suck.

http://demonssouls.wikidot.com/character-builds

Use this when you do its great I finished one playthrough but havent gone back thru it yet but this will definately be one im going to platinum

I only have one =[

Solace, I made the same mistake the first time I played it. Try the game again, but with a ... Forgot the class name... The one that starts with the item you need to cast magic. The knightis the toughest class apparently, and you really don't need any help in making that game more difficult.

I am looking forward to playing through it as a knight once I get through it with this guy though.

I started with wanderer... no wonder i never got far in the game...

If you are having trouble with the knight at the first level, restart the game with the Royal. It's one of the few games where magic users are more powerful, using a melee character ups the challenge imo, and wearing a heavy armor limits your movements, use light armors.

The game actually gets easier as you progress, but never easy enough that you should become reckless, every time you underestimate the game, it kicks your ass and you realize it's all your fault. This is one of the reasons i love Demon's Souls, it's hard but never cheap, and it's quite possibly my favorite on PS3 so far, a modern classic

It baffles me how Atlus can (very hopefully) do SO well by operating on the slimmest margins. They operate in a niche where they can estimate sales of ~75,000 BEING FAVORABLE. Good for them, and hope they keep the weirdness coming.

Its good when a company knows their limits. I'd say being realistic is a very sustainable business model.

Considering Atlus' SMT titles don't sell to well (Except after Persona 3 / 4 came out) they're used to selling like 30k copies in America.

Great games though.

Atlus sadly has no say in the sequel. Demon's Souls is owned and funded by Sony, and the sequel will most likely be published by them in Europe and the US.

Had Sony known the game would sell 200K+ units, it would have published the first game here as well. They'll definitely be publishing the second game, unless Atlus makes them an offer they can't refuse (which I don't think Atlus can afford to do).

On the one hand, it is a shame, but on the other, Demon's Souls wouldn't still be selling for nearly full price everywhere if a larger company like Sony were publishing it. Sony would have dropped the price as time went on (like most games), and that would inevitably mean more people playing the game, which would be good for everyone in the long run.

We probably won't get a special edition if they do publish it though =/

This game is still worth it at 60 quids.

Atlus has got nothing to do with Demon's Souls it owned by Sony
They just gave them the publishing rights for the US because they thought it won't sell a lot and passed on it... guess they were wrong

Sony should be able to do a worldwide release. Europe never got it.

May thine strength help the world be mended.

You forgot the long pause in there, lol.

*breathy voice*

Touch the demon inside me....

I tried to make her shut up so many times. She always resurrects herself though sadly.

why would you try and kill the lady in black that would completely screw up your file if she died.

Demon Souls 2 :D I contributed to that!

http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/

This game has kicked my ass for awhile now (I put it down in favor of some newer titles, but I always come back), and hopefully if they make a sequel they can make it with *true* co-op included, even if it's just couch co-op.

As impressive as that is it deserves to sell 4 times THAT amount. This game should be a million seller imo.

Never released in Europe, and Japan adds about 135k.

I really like Demon's Souls, but I never found it to be as hard as a lot of people make it out to be. It is very challenging and winning always feels rewarding.

I just want to know about the broken stone with the land of the giants.

meow?

Those numbers are only good if it sold at least as many copies everywhere else. Of course, we don't know how much it cost them to develop the game.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Report: Demon's Souls has punished nearly 4 times as many players as expected

Reader Comments (94)

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:32PM robob1988 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 3:29PM joeboosauce said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 4:07PM onan said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 5:44PM flit said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:19PM philmcfail said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:29PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:51PM Laughton said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:53PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 10:49PM phinn said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:35PM KingOfPenguinz said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:52PM Hooch said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:53PM Hooch said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:54PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 3:14PM Jesta said

Posted: Apr 15th 2010 2:49AM laser beams said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:34PM ECVOICE said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:35PM Dr Blight said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:24PM RagingStormX said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 9:24PM xxhonkeyxx said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:36PM IUP said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:36PM s ls said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:59PM mywhitenoise said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 3:11PM xGeneral DEATHxDEETH82 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 3:26PM s ls said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 3:30PM Tapejara said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 4:07PM zefur said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:27PM Levi said

Posted: Apr 15th 2010 5:51AM Morisato13 said

Posted: Apr 15th 2010 1:31PM rubadub72 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:37PM Assmar said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 3:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:39PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:37PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:56PM BananaBoat said

Posted: Apr 15th 2010 6:22AM khangenghis said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:43PM Dr Blight said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:41PM Altairio said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:44PM xGeneral DEATHxDEETH82 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:46PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:57PM BananaBoat said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 5:32PM darkfocus said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:43PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:31PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:43PM xGeneral DEATHxDEETH82 said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:44PM reson8er said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:52PM Dr Blight said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:46PM Admiral White said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:33PM rapidix said

Posted: Apr 14th 2010 2:58PM blueskyv201 said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW