Comments 2,170

Re: UK Charts: Hideo Kojima's Latest Project Leaves Mario Kart World Stranded In 2nd

johnedwin

1. Publishers are not obligated to disclose digital sales figures and often choose not to, treating this information as proprietary.
Specific sales data is often seen as a strategic asset, and sharing it could potentially benefit competitors or negatively impact public perception.
Some publishers may be contractually prohibited from sharing this information.

2. Difficulty in tracking digital distribution:

Unlike physical sales, where data can be aggregated from retailers and wholesalers, digital sales occur across multiple platforms (Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Marketplace, etc.).
This makes it challenging to collect and compile comprehensive digital sales data.

3. Industry practices and lack of standardized reporting:

The video game industry has historically focused on physical sales, and the transition to digital distribution is still relatively recent.
There isn't a universally adopted standard for reporting digital sales figures, making it difficult to compare data across different publishers and platforms.

4. Potential for misinterpretation and impact on perception:

Publicly released digital sales figures can be misinterpreted or used to make unfair comparisons between games.
Some publishers might prefer to keep digital sales figures vague to maintain a perception of success, even if actual sales are lower than perceived