PSP World

Why Don't Companies Release Digital Download Sales Figures?

Digital downloads are selling a LOT of copies, but we don't know exactly how many. That's because the sales figures for digital games are rarely disclosed either by the publisher or by the console manufacturers. But why have developers and console makers been so quiet about digital game sales, when they are so quick to brag about their position on the monthly charts that come out of analyst research groups like the NPD? In a word, retail. The video game industry right now straddles a difficult position between being reliant on brick-and-mortar shops for retail space for their systems and games, while also exploring the direct digital sales model. Digital sales will eventually kill off retail shops like Gamestop altogether, but Microsoft and Sony have an interest in keeping them satisfied in the short term. Bragging about how many digital copies of games are sold every month would send the message to retailers that they are not valued by the manufacturers or publishers. Consider the recent outrage by some brick-and-mortar shops over the upcoming PSP Go, in which some stores allegedly refused to carry the device.

Recent information by Microsoft Australia shows that Digital games actually sold more than retail games over the summer period. According to the company, all five of its Summer Arcade titles: 'Splosion Man, Turtles in Time, Trials HD, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, and Shadow Complex, would have beaten out other mainstream games to get on the top 10 charts. Battlefield 1943, which has sold more than a million copies worldwide, would have been at the very top of the charts in that country, and likely any other country that was surveyed. Again, we don't have specifics, but clearly a game that is sold over Xbox Live or the PSN and develops a fair degree of hype can be expected to be a million seller, something that seemed inconceivable a few years ago when these services were introduced. Take note retail store managers: it might be time to send that resume over to Jamba Juice.

We hope that console makers and game publishers will start to be more open about the number of copies selling over these services. At the very least, it would give fanboys something new to argue about. Video game companies probably want to keep the success of digital downloads under wraps for as long as they can, but when they do, they'll definitely have reason to brag.