Hellblade needs to sell up to 300,000 copies to recoup development costs

Ninja Theory has released a new Hellblade developer diary video focused on the business strategy behind the upcoming PS4 exclusive.

Product development manager Dominic Matthews says: "We're taking our work on Hellblade as an opportunity to question the way the game industry has always done things, to see if there's a better way, a more streamlined way, to create amazing quality but on a smaller budget.

[Fro_xoxo]

that shouldn't be a problem.

[bouzebbal]

give me some explosive action and that 300000 will be no problem

[user5669510]

yeah the problem was funding the developement.

[lelo2play]

The budget this game has and a 12-15 man team... this game sounds like a indie game.
If people are expecting a game with the scope of DMC or Heavenly Sword, I think they are going to be disappointed.

[GameDev1]

"If people are expecting a game with the scope of DMC or Heavenly Sword, I think they are going to be disappointed."

Lol, that is actually what they are aiming for, a game in the scope of their own AAA titles

Ninja theory actually call Hellblade an AAA indie title, it is made and published by an indie company but has the content of a AAA game, they are using Unreal engine 4 and Vicon for motion capture

Hellblade.com is a site you should look at for what this game is about, cause you seem to have no clue

[hay]

Wow, what a change. 1m of Heavenly Sword being a launch title: A MONUMENTAL FLOP, as they described it sealing their fate with the hypocrisy.
Enslaved: 700k, A FLOP.
DMC: 1.2m, A FLOP, since they aimed for twice as much in multiplatform ecosystem.

And now Hellblade, a Heavenly Sword reskin: 300k. Good to see their ambitions going up. But will it float?

Knowing the BS Antoniades did in the past, I think this is just an excuse to go "indie" and cash-in on "begstarters" additionaly in near future, the way Tim Schafer paved the road.

[trywizardo]

it'll sell more than that on PS4 , and X1 version will make it sell even more . i can already smell a sequel
@aviator : well , its a timed exclusive , so yeah it will be released on X1 after some months of PS4 release

[aviator189]

is an xbox one version on the way?

[G20WLY]

It's been touted as 'first on PS4', but there has been no talk of a potential Xbox release date or even an expected post-PS4 release delay.

I think they'll sell 300,000 if it's anywhere near as good as Heavenly Sword was, just of the back of the love that game had. The reveal had such a similar feel, it's seriously working those nostalgia-based cravings! :)

[Heavenly King]

They said PS4 first, because is the only version they are working on, BUT still they are searching for other viable platforms for their game.

[UltimateMaster]

For all we know, Hellblade could be on PC afterwards. I wouldn't dismiss the possibility on an Xbox release.
Either way 300k is not a bad number.
I'll be getting it.

[bouzebbal]

it's rumored to be timed exclusive, but could be exclusive PS4 as well. NT said nothing about this as far as i know

[CocoWolfie]

i like this. so honest :3

[ManiacMansion]

They told that it wont have as much content as a full game so if they wont bring this on a physical bluray and just as digital download 300k will be hard!

[OUROSMAG]

lol wut? They've never said that, in fact they've said that it has as much content as their previous titles.

[ManiacMansion]

"Hellblade is currently slated to release in 2015 for the PS4. It utilizes Unreal Engine 4 and will be a digital release featuring some fairly unforgiving combat"

http://gamingbolt.com/ninja...

[Forn]

@ManiacMansion

Again, where in there does it say it won't have as much content as a traditionally released game?

[XtraTrstrL]

That's about $18 million at $60 a copy.

[OUROSMAG]

It won't be 60 they are only doing only digital releases to lower cost.

[zeal0us]

They actually only get a fraction of $18m
Retailers, manufacturer/distributors and etc get their share of the $60.

[XtraTrstrL]

Yeah, just adding up the full amount at $60, they said 200,000-300,000 copies anyhow.

[Chaos_Raiden]

Good luck to Ninja Theory.

[jronj]

I'll buy one! I really enjoyed Heavenly Sword & Enslaved. Both games had great characters that made me want to keep playing to see how things would turn out for them...

[Fkhalf16]

Only thing left is for SONY to back this game with some marketing to let PS4 owners become aware of the game before release so that these guys reach that recoup development price and some more.

[persona4chie]

This game by the fans won't be called a"flop" if it only sales 300'000 because the company already stated that's all they need. So let this be a reminder to gamers that just because a game doesn't sale 5 million+, doesn't mean the game is a flop or isn't successful. Because since most developers don't tell us, you never know how many sales they need even if it's a little.

[Relientk77]

I think it'll sell more than 300,000

[HeartlessGamer]

I don't think that would be a problem