Lost & Damned Sells 1 Million Copies

Kotaku writes: "Microsoft have boasted that Grand Theft Auto IV expansion The Lost & Damned has broken Xbox Live revenue records. But what does that mean for unit sales?

The Cut Scene reckon that, according to "a good source", the add-on has sold "around one million units on Xbox Live". Microsoft can't confirm this number, but it does sound awfully familiar."

[Delta]

Wait??? Didn't they sell 1 million like a month ago? or was that another M$ lie?

[JokesOnYou]

Its not saying as of today it sold 1 mil, this Kotaku article actually has a link back to Feb 27 when it was reported to have sold 1 mil, Kotaku actually is doing this latest article based on the Variety story which is also referring back to the previously reported news of 1 mil sold, using those sales #'s to analyze: "Why it's increasingly important that there's no DLC in NPD"...I didn't see anything about them saying its now CURRENTLY at 1 mil sold, which I guess is because no further numbers have been released.

@Zeus Lee, The deal according to sources was for two DLC episodes, so 20mil based on the last numbers SO FAR released and of course I'm sure the 1st part will definitely continue to sale, althoug I'm sure it will be a a lot less 1mil per month thats still great, especially for DLC and then the 2nd part should also cut heavily into that what micro paid, so it seems very premature on your part long before the next DLC has even released for you to say it won't pay off?

JOY

[MURKERR]

people need to stop spinning things and just be real we have no shares in microsoft or sony so people need to stop being sensitive over their consoles its an electronic device even the biggest fanboy site of them all kotaku has admitted the sales are dissappointing, by the time the sencond DLC comes out will anybody care..seriously? this has been a huge embarrasment for microsoft money which could have gone to make two exclusive games which they sorely need

[Milky]

So this means microsoft still hasn't taken any profit? Really not something to brag about.

[JokesOnYou]

MURKERR, I didn't spin anything, I didn't say all the 20mil is micro's cut all I did is point out that as of the last announcement sometime around Feb 27 the DLC sales are 20mil, just as the article states, the point I was trying to make was that right now less than two months since it was released its already close to half of the 25mil per episode micro reportedly paid and remember that was as of the end of Feb, so it only needs 1/4 of its already announced 1mil sales to reach what it costs....sure theres advertising and Rockstars cut to be considered but none of us know the details of that deal and either way its not like this DLC won't be available online and in stores for a long time which will all but garuantee profits, I don't even really think its a question of will it make a profit, its more of a question of how much???

Now its funny you respond to me about spinning and owning micro shares as if I instigated the whole conversation...I was merely responding to the first post which obviously he didn't understand this news from Kotaku, I just gave him info and I also made a counter point to zeus lee statements suggesting the DLC not paying off, lets not even talk about how the DLC has already help sell a once very popular franchise on ps2, now have better sales on the 360 vs ps3 so there are other factors to consider, but no I shouldn't say that, right?...In fact it seems YOU are the "naysayer" looking for any excuse to call this DLC a failure, lol but I'm the bad guy for giving a legitimate point of view, its OK I won't cry, it is what it is and this IS N4G.

JOY

[socomnick]

Whats really funny is that this dlc has outsold Sonys biggest hyped game ever kz 2. lol 500k copies vs 1 million copies sold for dlc.

[Anon1974]

But wasn't Killzone 2 over a million in it's first 2 weeks? You're kinda way off on that one.

Actually, I take that back. I really didn't hate to break that to you.
Oh, wait! You were probably only looking at NPD sales, weren't you? Yeah, 360 fans do that fairly often.

[MURKERR]

that right there shows me you geared up and deep in the trenches of this so called 'console war'...i dont give a flying f**k about console wars but ill speak the truth when i see it,gta DLC for 50mil was a failure microsoft know it,rockstar know the media know it.

i wish that money went into new IPs because im a gamer simple as

[gears22]

I mill? lame

[Dragun619]

You know, You would think that The Lost and The Dammed would sell at least around 2-3 million considering that its apart of a game that sold about 5-6 million on Xbox360.

[Eiffel]

You two obviously lack the brain power to comprehend sale figures.

One million for DLC that released not even two months ago for a game that released nearly a year ago is a pretty good achievement.

[Dragun619]

@ Eiffel

True, it has only been out for 2 months. I was just blinded by what DevilSoulTaker said about how it beat killzone 2 sales. Not to say that lost and the dammed can't beat killzone 2 in sales is just sorta irritated me how he didn't have any facts to back up his claims.
Does anyone know when the NPD Sales chart for March is released?

[SL1M DADDY]

My guess is that of the 5 or 6 million that purchased the game originally, many of them sold or traded the game in by the time the DLC was released. That in itself causes issues since many will have to purchase the game again, new or used just to play the DLC and perhaps the DLC was just not impressive enough for people to reinvest in the game. My guess is that those who purchased the DLC were the hardcore GTAIV folks that were not jaded due tot he generic gameplay that was in fact GTAIV. Many folks I have spoken to enjoyed Saints Row 2 for being closer to the originality of the other GTA games and were sadly disappointed by IV.

[Zeus Lee]

I knew the numbers were lower than expected,Microsoft aren't the kind of company that holds back numbers.

1 Million copies @ 19.99 a pop=About $20,000,000 right?Looks like that $50,000,000 isn't going to pay off.

[N4PS3G]

They payed $50M for 2 exclusive DLC ... The Lost & Damned is only the first one...so they technically payed $25M for each one

and if they earned 20M already on the first one in just 2 months ...its likely to pay off in some time

[lloyd_wonder]

Well, it looks like their return investment maybe sound. Accordingly, Microsoft, Take2, and Rocksatar didn't just develop this exclusive DLC for nothing. They won't see too much of a profit at this rate-- if at all.

I think Microsoft expected too much from Grand Theft Auto 4 for their platform with this DLC. It didn't drive more sales for GTA4 or the 360. I think they expected what GTA3 did for the PS2. Except, both versions of GTA4 sold around the same.

I wouldn't rule out a GTA4 expansion disc for the PS3 and 360 at a later date. Microsoft may have paid for the DLC but they don't own it or the ip.

[-GoD_-oF-_WaR-]

Exactly what i was thinking when i read the article..
hmm.. maybe the next one will be something everyone wants..San Andreas... but i really doubt it.

[spunnups]

That's assuming MS gets the entire $20. That I don't know. Even if they did, as of now, they are short. Question: Is the DLC coming with this game or the next one?

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

Well there is a lot of assumptions here:

a) MS paid $50 million for 2 episodes
b) The episode only sold 1 million in 10 days (we are now over a month since that according to the old source 2/27)
c) MS doesn't receive all the revenue

See where I'm heading with this? Nowhere as everything is based on assumptions and it really doesn't matter, because people should praise MS for funding extra content. If MS didn't fund it, we *might* not have gotten anything and as far as I know the DLC is reasonably priced unlike a lot of other DLC.

[Zeus Lee]

So you think the next DLC will do 30 Million?Look,unless it's going to be titled San Andreas 2 or Vice City 2,it's not going to do much better than this one if better at all.It's easy to disagree until the numbers come out,so let's leave it at that.

All I'm saying is,the 50 Million dollar investment from Microsoft into this exclusive DLC is not looking like it'll pay off due to the underwhelming performance of the first pack of DLC.Plain and simple.

[terrandragon]

Still a little early, and who knows how big the next DLC will be? So yes, it is kind of premature but a good speculation on using sales from the first one.

[Godmars290]

Unless sales of the actual game pick up, how will the second DLC sell better than the first?

And how is a second source saying that sales hit or are near a million *now* when MS announced that it reached that mark weeks ago? How does this not hurt their overall credibility?

[Sayai jin]

@Zues Lee- Seeing how I do not work or own stock in MS I could care less about sales. I think it has paid off greatly. What I mean is that they paid to make sure those who have their console were going to get extra content(expansion)on. Hmmm, a company made sure that gamers had a chance to get and continue playing a game that has been one of the largest titles to launch this gen. I mean is this not why we are gamers to play games.

[Zeus Lee]

http://ir.take2games.com/Re...

"Sales of Rockstar Games' blockbuster Grand Theft Auto IV continued to exceed the Company's expectations. Over 10 million units have been sold through to consumers as of August 16, 2008."

Over 10 Million GTA4 copies out there,half of which are Xbox 360 versions.With the amount of advertising for The Lost & Damned and the amount of GTA4 copies sold on the 360,it's not hard at all to see why 1 Million sales of the DLC is disappointing.

[swiftshot93]

the second pack isnt magically going to sell better than the first. Unless MS launches an advertising campaign (which I seriously doubt), then it will not give MS the return they want.

[4Sh0w]

You're comparing a full blown game sales to DLC which has been out less than 2 months, to my knowledge expansion packs dont usually sale close to what the original content sales, its simply there for the fans who already finished the full game and want to play more content prior to waiting for a full blown sequel.

I kind of agree with JOY. zeus how do you know it won't pay off?

[lowcarb]

Nobody knows the actual figures sold yet. This is an old estimate and will be revealed at E3 more than likely. Any hate on MS right now will only backfire and make you look extremely more like a console racist.

[CaptainKratos]

that sucks.i guess. whats with the "wow thats more than KZ2...ouch" really.

[QQcrybaby]

Zues calm down you sound like a 14 year old child. JokesOnYou already noted that the 1 million was reported a while ago. It's now the middle of April.

The DLC is a wild success. http://www.gamesindustry.bi...

People like you are why I get a headache half the time I read comments on this site. This DLC will sell 2 mil easy. The first pack alone will almost if not fully recoup microsoft's investment.

[CaptainKratos]

now im faaking confused.my brain HURTS!!!!to much gaming.

[Obama]

over 2 million so far I believe.

[DelbertGrady]

But nothing confirmed. I'm with you though, it's geting close to what Gears 2 sold in one day. Good numbers for a PS3 flagship lol!

[Timesplitter14]

Damn. I'm lost

[CaptainKratos]

Damned...lol. get it.HAAHAA

[Timesplitter14]

A number beyond imagination

[dash--]

Why hasn't M$ stated the actual numbers?

[lowcarb]

Probably because they want to unveil them at E3 for bragging rights.

[Kurylo3d]

With the promise of downloadable content.. it got a lot of people to buy the game for the 360 instead of the ps3... i think that was microsofts goal. They got a lot more people to buy it in their console.. the original game.. means more money... 50 mil was a good investment and i think it already paid off. Even if these downloadables didnt sell at all it was a good investment.

[SonyRulz]

People who are (foolishly) looking at this as a 1-to-1 deal, don't understand the "big picture", and why MS made this deal with 2K.

The amount GTA4 sold on 360 OVER the PS3...combined with any consoles sold due to the exclusive content...MORE than makes up the $50 million they spent on the DLC. With 1 million sold already, it's safe to say MS is working on PURE PROFIT, from here on out, where GTA4 is concerned. That's ASSUMING you're dense enough to treat it as a separate entity TO BEGIN WITH, rather than a large cog in the machine built to give the XBOX brand a stronger foothold in the 2nd generation.

THAT is the big picture, for those not intelligent enough to understand it.

[Whoooop]

MS didn't plan to make profit off of Lost & Damned... At least that wasn't the main plan.

The plan was to try and persuade as many people as possible to buy the 360 version of GTA4.

It was a long-term investment more than anything... Profit is a plus for them with this DLC.

[Sonyfanclubpresident]

is paying off huh you N4G Sony Gaystation swine?

[gambare]

well... there is no games for the 360 right now, so it's obvious that losers... I mean users like you will buy the DLC as their only gaming option.

[Ichiryoka]

I dont understand this whole sales thing why does this GTA downloadable content SALES mean anything to me? I bought it but for what reason would I have to know more than a million other people did as well? I wont be seeing any of this money.

Man you guys take this sales thing too seriously. While some people on this site are screaming their heads off about sales, I'm just going to keep buying those games that "don't sell too well" and enjoy them, because it didn't "sell too well" it's not going to hinder my experience. LOl for instance I just bought bioshock for PS3 I have no idea how it sold, but I'm loving the game...did I mention I dont know how much it sold? It must have sold enough for them to want to put bioshock 2 on ps3 as well.. man whatever point is Sales does not matter, I bought Star Ocean 4 and Valkryia Chronicles loving them both.

And for you sales fanatics. You can suck my ..DIC..tionary.

[DreamcastFanboy]

Don't they mean a million downloads? Dumb asses.

[Sarcasm]

It's also sold in stores

[KingKionic]

Well good it sold over a miil.

[Sonyfanclubpresident]

We have 3 years worth of killer software to play.......while you're just now getting some decent titles to play on your Blu Ray Grill.
You N4G Sony Gaystation 3 boys are pathetic!

That's your ammo?

You were basically gameless for a year and a half with that POS3 you bought.

Get a grip kid.

While I'm gearing up and ready for next gen tech(the next xbox),
you will soon be stuck in last gen with your pathetic Ps3.

Ha ha you twibus.

[xaviertooth]

ohhh ... and by that you accept that 360 is useless for all you bots out there huh!

[Obama]

if Bill Gate takes a crap and named it the next xbox Sonyfanclubpresident will buy it with a smile.

[Zeus Lee]

Let's wait and see,shall we :) ?

[Xi]

1. MS used the DLC to push the xbox version of gta4 past the other versions, which means more sales for the 360, more people buying a 360 for gta4 and microsoft selling more things on the 360. Sometimes the externalities are more important than the initial effect.

2. MS paid for 25 million per episode, not 50.

3. The game is still selling, until they remove the game from xbl it will continue to sell, and it may even sell more when the next DLC is released. Assuming otherwise is like thinking a game only sells for the first month then it's never purchased again.

[Sanhlami]

FAIL. Not as good as killzone 2 sales!

jk

[ApocalypseShadow]

" was lost and the damned worth the money microsoft spent ?"

you disagree with him and that's fine. but consider his point :

" will microsoft make their money back ?"

sure it kept some gamers from buying a ps3. and it really doesn't matter to us gamers if they do or not. you got to play it exclusive to 360. but if they spent 50 million and only made 20 million so far, will they make up the other 30 million on the second part ?

not only that, but microsoft spent money advertising the game. and will again for the second part of the dlc.

" how many more millions is that ?" even when gamers still bought it on ps3 that didn't care for the extra dlc of a game that didn't push beyond san andreas ."

secondly, alot of you are saying the dlc will sell over time. isn't that the same thing we ps3 fans say will happen to ps3 exclusive games ?that they sell over time ?

double standards i see. but microsoft spent more than 50 million and will spend more hyping the second part. that sounds like a loss of money. especially if they are probably sharing those profits with rockstar.which again means less money.

apocalypse................... ...

[lowcarb]

"that sounds like a loss of money."

It may sound like a loss of money to you but until they announce the official figures at e3 then i'm sure you will think different.

"secondly, alot of you are saying the dlc will sell over time. isn't that the same thing we ps3 fans say will happen to ps3 exclusive games ?that they sell over time ?

double standards i see." How is that a double standard? The reason 360 fans would say things was because PS3 fans were acting as if only PS3 games had long legs.

"not only that, but microsoft spent money advertising the game. and will again for the second part of the dlc."

Can I ask you something? Once MS gives it's official numbers at E3 that are mind blowing will you then quit doubting and hating pretty much?

"but microsoft spent more than 50 million and will spend more hyping the second part. ANd how do you know exactly what they spent?

[cereal_killa]

Lowcarb you make some good point but I also agree with Apocalypse Shadow points as well.

"It may sound like a loss of money to you but until they announce the official figures at e3 then I'm sure you will think different."

You may be right to think that E3 will be the place to show off there numbers but we all know how big M$ ego is about sales and I think they held off any official numbers because it really isn't selling like they thought it would, if it was such a great big hit they would have posted the number the next day after release like they did with Gears with there 2 million sold on 1st day all we got was that it broke the highest download revenue record but with no numbers.

[d0nT wOrrY]

next xbox? haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahah a

you f*ckin sheep

[nchizimbi]

Good for Microsoft, though I believe THE LOST AND THE DAMNED would have sold over a million copies by now if it released on a disc. A disc-based solution is more accessible than DLC. Personally, I am not a fan of DLC, probably because I live in a non-Xbox LIVE region...internet is still slow in my country (and expensive too). Hopeful after Episode 2 releases via DLC, Microsoft/Rockstar will at a future date produce a GTAIV complete edition containing the full game and the two episodes or just the two episodes in one retail box. I am sure a disc-based solution of the episodes could serve both Microsoft/Rockstar and the end-uesr...I know I would buy it.

[N2NOther]

Who says a disc based version of the DLC isn't in the cards? MS isn't stupid. If they see it as a way to make more money, they'll do it. I could see them selling it as either packaged with both DLC down the road, OR a Special Edition of GTA IV with both DLC, not unlike Oblivion Game of the Year edition.

[ShabzS]

that was an awsome expansion

[solidsnakus]

well, it outsold killzone 2 just like i called it.

[Says you]

a DLC is considered news how trivial and like I said in my other post that they would try to do anything to make themselves look good no matter how small or trivial and I was right you don't see Sony stating that how many DLC people download cause that is not news

they did the same thing with achievements.

[divideby0]

I can tell you NO ONE on my bud list bought this. Dont know who all these buyers are

[Perjoss]

I'm one of the buyers, 5 hours in and only 25% complete and I haven't even been 'messing' around, and its all been really good so far. Was a bit strange at first being a biker in a bike gang but i soon got used to it and I'm having a blast. You quickly get attached to the new protagonist and his life and troubles.

Once I finish Lost & Damned I'm going to play through vanilla gta4 again, what an amazing game.

[cyrus228]

didnt MS spend 25 mill to make it? so at 20$ each times 1 mill they didnt even break even lol still short 5 million in sales.

[Kurylo3d]

You really dont understand... microsoft sold more copies of gta4 then ps3... because of the promise of downloadable content. They are not out anything, for them its all profit... Microsoft isnt stupid, they make smart buisness decisions.. thats why they are microsoft. Microsoft wouldnt be the king of all corporate if they were in the buisness of losing money.

[TrueGamer71]

I got it :D

[maxcer]

I wont be picking this up unless i can get a replacement disc for GTA4. a few nasty scuffs on the surface is making my game freeze constantly. or its just a problem with the actual game and MS/Rockstar don't give a sh*t about fixing a problem a lot of people seem to have with this issue. hmm.. maybe i can do a disc swap at blockbuster...

[Ldubbz]

Thats a lotta DL's. Though its not an official number. But I love how people assume it is, and then also quickly forget that the game has plenty of time to get more sales...its only been out for a couple of months time.

Great game for a great price.

[JD_Shadow]

"Microsoft can't confirm this number"

It's from KOTAKU and is quoting MS.

Anyone else see some irony here?

Who else thinks that MS is talking out of their asses here...AGAIN?