The fantasy MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online achieved strong sales figures in the USA in June. This is indicated by data from market research institutes and analysts.
The analysts from Superdata provide figures for the gaming market. They are not undisputed, especially the source citations are sometimes vague. Furthermore, they also lump MOBAs and online card games into the MMO category, which hardcore fans do not appreciate. Nevertheless, their data is adopted by most media – there are very few alternatives.
As with the current player counts, the sales figures are also strictly confidential in many cases, and you only get clues and approximations – as it suits the PR personnel and heads of the publishers.
The majority of statistics and figures from Superdata paint a clear picture: Free2Play MMOs with microtransactions are on the rise. Anyone who still wants to make money off their customers for the game itself or for a subscription is targeting a market that continues to shrink.
The Elder Scrolls Online “saves” the paid MMO market single-handedly
According to Superdata, June 2015 offers an interesting picture. Because it is very rare that the paid MMO market experiences growth again. In June 2015, however, this was the case compared to June 2014. In the USA, the market for paid MMOs on PC and consoles grew by 30% compared to the previous year. And there is a reason for this: “The Elder Scrolls Online.”
The Elder Scrolls Online has significantly revitalized the struggling paid MMO market according to numerous reports.
It operates on a “Buy2Play” model: Players must purchase the base game and then have the option to buy a quasi-subscription called “TESO Plus” or acquire new game content or items (like EXP Boosters or mounts) from the cash shop, the crown store.
Allegedly sold 138,000 digital units in the USA
It is alleged that The Elder Scrolls Online sold 138,000 digital units alone in the USA.
In statistics revolving around “Digital Earnings”, this includes microtransactions and other purchases, The Elder Scrolls Online ranked 3rd in the USA in June, behind Call of Duty and GTA V. In Germany it ranked 5th (Fifa 15 is ranked 1st), and in the UK it ranked 4th. These are the figures from Superdata:
Other sources also confirm the sales success of The Elder Scrolls Online
Other figures also confirm that The Elder Scrolls Online has sold very well in the USA. In June, it ranked 2nd in “Retail Sales”, meaning the boxes that sold over the counter, across all platforms, just behind Arkham Knight. This was reported by the market research institute NPD Group.
In the past, Sony already reported that TESO had won the US market on PlayStation in June. Additionally, further campaigns have been launched in recent weeks – but not in Europe anymore, only in the USA. For other MMOs, this would at least equate to the signal effect of opening new servers.
