Xbox's Helldivers 2 Outperforms Fanboy Expectations: Exploring the Causes of the Sales Boost
In a surprising turn of events, Helldivers 2, the first game from PlayStation Publishing LLC, has become a significant success on the Xbox Series X|S. According to a report from Alinea Analytics, a relatively new firm with veteran analysts among its ranks, Helldivers 2 sold an impressive 926,000 copies on Xbox in its first six days, compared to 633,000 copies on PlayStation in the same period last year.
Rhys Elliott, an analyst at Alinea, attributes Helldivers 2's success on Xbox to a combination of factors. He believes that Xbox's audience and their affinity for alien-shooting games played a crucial role. The release of ODST-themed Halo content likely added to the appeal, as did the pent-up demand among Xbox players eager to experience a game with Halo-inspired gameplay.
Moreover, Helldivers 2's success on Xbox could encourage PlayStation to port more service and multiplayer titles, rather than back catalog titles like The Last of Us or God of War. This shift could be beneficial, given the estimated Xbox Series X|S install base of 30 to 40 million, compared to the over 80 million PlayStation 5 install base.
However, it's important to note that the success of Helldivers 2 on Xbox does not guarantee the same for all PlayStation games. For instance, Mafia: The Old Country sold poorly on Xbox compared to PlayStation, suggesting a potential advantage for PlayStation in action-adventure games. Cross-platform friend groups and the novelty of PlayStation's direct efforts on Xbox could make games like Returnal successful on Xbox, while action-adventure games like Ghost of Tsushima might not.
The success of Helldivers 2 on Xbox challenges the fanboy narrative that Xbox users "don't buy games." In fact, Xbox fans showed a preference for Madden over PlayStation, according to the same report. The success of Helldivers 2 on Xbox Series X|S is a testament to the growing competition in the gaming industry, with players embracing games that align with their preferences, regardless of the platform.
In response to the success of Helldivers 2 on Xbox, Microsoft reciprocated by launching Gears of War: Reloaded on PlayStation. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how this trend unfolds, with both PlayStation and Xbox vying for the attention of gamers worldwide.
