There are data from Superdata about the most profitable games in March 2017 regarding digital revenue. Mass Effect Andromeda is showing weaker performance than its predecessor. Very strong is Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands on PS4 and Xbox One.
Every month, the analysis firm Superdata determines the most profitable games of a month: the highest-grossing games worldwide. These are mostly “long-sellers” that maintain their position at the top for a long period through microtransactions or DLCs, known as “Games as a service.” But sales figures also play a role.
Overwatch weaker than CS: Go for the first time since launch
At the top spots on PC, little changes. The MOBA behemoth League of Legends stands before the Asian titles Crossfire and Dungeon Fighter Online.
On PC, Overwatch has now generated less revenue than Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for the first time since launch. The oldie is now overtaking Overwatch, rising from rank 8 in February 2017 to 7 in March. Overwatch falls from 6 to 8. But Overwatch is still available on PS4 and Xbox One.
Mass Effect Andromeda earns less digitally in launch month than Mass Effect 3
Surprisingly, Mass Effect: Andromeda generated less revenue digitally in its launch month compared to Mass Effect 3 (2012).
That is very unusual. Because there is now a strong industry trend that games earn more digitally than before. For instance, digital revenue in the USA grew by 15% in March 2017 compared to the previous year.
The losses of Mass Effect: Andromeda compared to Mass Effect 3 are probably not that severe. Superdata speaks of the “low single-digit percentage range,” meaning somewhere between 3 and 7%.
According to Superdata, 349,000 fewer units of Mass Effect Andromeda were sold digitally on PC than Mass Effect 3 during their respective launch months.
Perhaps the exact date also plays a role: ME: Andromeda was released in the USA on March 21, 2017. Mass Effect 3 was released on March 6, 2012.
Mass Effect: Andromeda only enters the Top 10 at rank 9 on consoles. It does not make the jump on PC.
On the other hand, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is incredibly strong. It enters the top 10 on PC at rank 10, while on consoles it even reaches the top position at rank 1.
Superdata states that Ghost Recon Wildlands sold 800,000 digital units on PS4 and Xbox One and 400,000 on PC in March.
Lineage 2 Revolution and Hearthstone – Returning to Normality
In mobile games, the rise of Lineage 2 Revolution has temporarily stopped. It shot to rank 1 in February. In March 2017, it is at rank 10 worldwide. The game has only been released in Korea. The competitor Clash Royale is distributed worldwide and has reclaimed the top spot.
Also, Hearthstone, the troubled title from last month, shows improvement. In March 2017, the title generated twice as much revenue as in February, likely because many significant card packs for the expansion “Journey to Un’Goro” were pre-ordered.
Here you can compare the current numbers with those from last month:
Mass Effect: Andromeda is the fourth game in Bioware's Mass Effect universe, but it marks a kind of relaunch of the series. The story takes place hundreds of ye...
