If you’ve visited any sort of gaming-related forum over the past couple weeks, you’ve no doubt caught wind of the controversy surrounding Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’s difficulty. While there’s certainly a debate to be had about accessibility in games like Sekiro (I actually think the game is one of From Software’s most accessible to date) it seems the game’s difficulty hasn’t scared players away. According to publisher Activision, Sekiro sold over 2 million copies in its first 10 days on the market. Activision product and marketing VP Michelle Fonseca had this to say about the impressive accomplishment…
“Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has brought something very special and unique to Activision’s portfolio of games. It’s been an honor to work with From Software to help introduce a brand-new franchise to gamers around the world. The fans have made Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice one of the most incredible game launches of 2019 thus far. The game has performed well on all platforms including PC and we’re excited by the continued support from gamers and critics alike. It has been gratifying to see the enjoyment from fans when they overcome each challenge.”
By comparison, the original Dark Souls sold 2.37 million in it’s first year and a half, Dark Souls 2 sold 2.5 million in its first year, and Dark Souls 3 took several months to hit 3 million. So, if Sekiro’s sales hold steady, and there’s no reason to believe they won’t, From’s hardest game is on track to become its most successful ever. In other words, expect more punishment in the future.
Haven’t picked up Sekiro yet? While the game isn’t perfect, I found it to be an exciting, surprisingly-inviting adventure in my full review…
“You can tell From Software was happy to try something a little different with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The game has a few mechanical issues, which can largely be chalked up to new series jitters, but its energy and excitement mostly make up for its flaws. Yes, Sekiro can be downright sadistic at times, but those with the bushido (or plain old stubbornness) to face its challenges will have a bloody good time.”
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is available now on PC, Xbox One, and PS4.
