Namco Bandai has come to the defense of Ninja Theory’s latest sales flops in Enlaved: Odyssey to the West. As many of you are now aware, Enslaved failed to sell 600,000 copies world wide since its release. This is a pretty awful number considering how well it was received by critics and the quality of the title overall.
Namco, though, doesn’t think that Enslaved’s poor sales is a reflection of how gamers felt about the title, but more so about how busy the Holiday season was for gaming and that Enslaved just got overlooked in the fray of things. Namco’s Marketing VP Carlson Choi told Siliconera that the publisher definitely had higher hopes for the game.
“It really didn’t do what we anticipated,” he admitted.
“To be perfectly frank, I think as a company prior to us reforming this organisation, going to market, I think the game went to market at a very busy season. It launched in the midst of a busy holiday season. Last year, there were like 4000+ games for consoles.
“We didn’t do a good job finding the right time for it because when you look at the quality of the game it speaks for itself. An 80+ rated game is guaranteed a hit. We got DLC that came out that got 10 out of 10. Ultimately, I think that game had the quality needed to address the gamers.
“I think it’s a matter of getting into the market at the right time, which is something you will see us do much better,” he promised.
To be honest, Choi is more than likely correct. If you’re a solid game, there is a strong chance you can be left in the dust in the midst of what is considered one of the best Holiday rushes for gaming in the history of the industry. However, I also believe that if the title is good enough to stand on its own legs, then 600,000 copies is still a ridiculous embarrassment that shouldn’t be overlooked.
After all, there were a ton of titles released at that point and the majority of them that were received well critically and by gamers surely surpassed the 600,000 mark with ease.
What do you think was the primary reason for Enslaved’s let down? Was it the timing? Let us know by discussing it via our forums here.
Great game, poor sales…where have I seen this before? Wasn’t it someone else blamed last time?
Why not bother marketing the game appropriately next time?
to answer your question
i beliewe it was 1 to 1 whith the timing and the aproach
im gona compare this whit ico
ico is by my beliewes one of the most “touching” medium experiences that there is
but it sold wery porly for being an outsider
simular story with enslaved, a fantastic experience but has a new unseen platfroming cqc aproach that not many can reley to
and than the fact that it released next to gow3 and ff13…
i recomend this game 2 anyone,
because behind the not so polished look of enslawed is a great game just waiting 4 y to be played
and if ninja teory is reading this, than plzz give us hewenly sword 2, and get some help from kevin butler if you want youre sales problem fixed, o and thanks 4 youre awesome games