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- Hellblade 2 is one of Xbox’s biggest releases in 2024.
- The game is performing below expectations on Steam so far, showing up as the 223rd best-seller.
- It is also below the top 50 most wishlisted releases on the platform.
Hellblade 2 is due for release in just 11 days, and there is a lot to be excited about, including a next-gen visual experience fueled by Unreal Engine 5 technology, a narrative that raises the stakes for Senua, and a compact, more focused experience.
However, it seems Microsoft’s marketing efforts are letting this first-party launch down. While such a massive release would typically show up in Steam’s best-sellers ahead of release, Hellblade 2 is nowhere to be seen in the top 200 games.
Why it matters: For one of this year’s biggest AAA releases, Hellblade 2 should have been in the top 20 Steam best-sellers by now.
According to SteamDB, Hellblade 2 is found all the way down at the 223rd spot on Steam’s list of best-selling titles. While the game is still over a week away from release, this is quite shocking.
For comparison, much older games like Titanfall 2 are selling better. The game is doing just as poorly in terms of wishlists, with Steam ranking it as the 65th most wishlisted release on the platform.
At this rate, Hellblade 2 could end up being a disappointing launch. Fans currently blame Microsoft’s marketing, or lack thereof, for this situation, with many citing that the general public is not aware of this release.
Xbox already has a reputation for being conservative in its marketing efforts, and the recent controversy around the brand has done little to help. Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg has already confirmed that marketing efforts were in full swing yesterday.
Xbox is slowly picking up the pace, using various banners and video promotions to generate buzz for this single-player release. However, it remains to be seen if the game will be able to bounce back.
It is also important to note that Hellblade 2 is a digital-only release. While this will not impact its performance on Steam, such games typically require more marketing efforts due to the lack of retail copies for consoles.
Hellblade 2 is set to launch on Game Pass, and that may have impacted its position on the list to an extent.
However, past releases like Starfield have managed to find quite an audience on the platform despite a similar launch, so we hope to see Ninja Theory’s upcoming title ending up high on the list by May 21.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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