It’s been a tough year for supermarkets selling video games. Although gaming is enjoying a boom in popularity, mobile platforms have become major competitors to the console format. As recently as last month, we reported that supermarkets were suffering a 25% year-on-year slump in video game sales.
But the year isn’t over yet, and the market is heading towards Christmas with confidence - thanks in a big way to two major launches in as many weeks.
Halo 4 made more than $220m in global sales in its first 24 hours of release last week, according to Microsoft - up from the $200m its predecessor sold in the 24 hours following its 2010 release. And Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, which launched today, is expected to beat the £250m it made in the UK and US within a day.
Fifa 13 and Assassin’s Creed 3 have also turned in blockbuster performances this autumn. And the supermarkets have responded.
Asda teamed up with Wilkinson Sword to offer Call of Duty widows goodie bags at a series of midnight launches, while Tesco opened 600 stores to accommodate gaming fans - making sure they were well looked-after with food and drink provided for the queues.
Publishers may have worried retailers by ‘backloading’ - saving their big launches for the pre-Christmas rush - but there’s no sign of the major mults reducing their support for the biggest titles.
And with Grand Theft Auto V set for release in spring next year, 2013 could be even more successful - and we won’t have to wait until Christmas. As recently as last month, we reported that supermarkets were suffering a 25% year-on-year slump in video game sales.
But the year isn’t over yet, and the market is heading towards Christmas with confidence - thanks in a big way to two major launches in as many weeks.
Halo 4 made more than $220m in global sales in its first 24 hours of release last week, according to Microsoft - up from the $200m its predecessor sold in the 24 hours following its 2010 release. And Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, which launched today, is expected to beat the £250m it made in the UK and US within a day.
Fifa 13 and Assassin’s Creed 3 have also turned in blockbuster performances this autumn. And the supermarkets have responded.
Asda teamed up with Wilkinson Sword to offer Call of Duty widows goodie bags at a series of midnight launches, while Tesco opened 600 stores to accommodate gaming fans - making sure they were well looked-after with food and drink provided for the queues.
Publishers may have worried retailers by ‘backloading’ - saving their big launches for the pre-Christmas rush - but there’s no sign of the major mults reducing their support for the biggest titles.
And with Grand Theft Auto V set for release in spring next year, 2013 could be even more successful - and we won’t have to wait until Christmas.
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