The new online shooter Star Wars Battlefront 2 (PC, PS4, Xbox One) seems to have had a relatively weak sales start. Initial numbers from the UK suggest that sales are down 60% compared to its predecessor from 2015.
It’s a tradition for new games: The United Kingdom reveals sales figures on the Monday after the launch week, providing insights into the success of a game. And customers are not giving a thumbs up to Star Wars Battlefront 2.
However: These are only the retail sales in the UK. So it’s not a huge figure, but it does indicate a trend.
60% worse than Battlefront 1, 50% worse than Battlefield 1
According to reports, Star Wars Battlefront 2 sold 60% worse in the UK compared to Star Wars Battlefront 1 in 2015. It also falls significantly behind Battlefield 1 from 2016, with 50% fewer sales.
However: Digital revenues are not included in these figures. They likely increased last year, but probably not enough to offset the missing unit sales.
This results in Star Wars Battlefront 2 not taking the top position in the UK, landing only in second place behind Call of Duty: WWII.
The sales of Battlefront II in the UK came in at 55% for the PS4, 44% for the Xbox One, and only 1% for the PC. The PC is largely a digital market.
Much Trouble over Lootboxes
Star Wars Battlefront 2 has been hit by a wave of outrage. This was related to new monetization ideas from EA that stem from games like FIFA. Progress in the Star Wars game is tied to lootboxes, which can be earned in the game but can also be purchased for real money.
The outrage was so strong and persistent that EA removed the option to purchase lootboxes for real money just before release. However, this is said to be only a temporary solution. EA has not yet disclosed how it will ultimately change the system. The company has avoided questions on the matter.
Emergency brake! No microtransactions in Star Wars Battlefront 2 for now
