UK Sales Charts: Battleborn Reaches Number One, But...

So Battleborn sold more units across multiple platforms? Surely that makes it worthy of taking the number 1 slot? Just because it didn't sell as many units on a specific platform as an 'exclusive' doesn't make it any less worthy if overall its sales were higher. Its the reason we see 9 multi-plat games in the top 10 - because their sales across multiple platforms add up. Its received quite a bit of advertising too - not that I bought it...

I am not surprised that the Nathan Drake collection jumped up the list with Uncharted 4 releasing tomorrow - a guaranteed number 1...

@get2sammyb
I expected you to take heat for pointing that out. I just didn't expect it in the first comment or from somebody who doesn't seem to be the biggest Nintendo supporter. Though this is a PS website, since there's still a lot of crossover most people here seem to be primarily Nintendo gamers and they're the ones who set the goal posts. On NLife they will make it a point to mention in sales articles if an exclusive is the 'best selling individual sku,' and the fans will throw a celebration party in the comment section, point out the same for a PS exclusive, or Xbox exclusive, even on a website specific to said brand, and there's excuse making. Bottomline is Ratchet & Clank is selling well, people should be happy about that regardless of what brand they support. I don't go to NLife and p*ss, b*tch and moan when a Nintendo game does well, I'm genuinely happy to see it. The better all these companies do, the better for gaming, especially when it's kind of a surprise like R&C which I think most of us expected would be a pretty big flop.

I hope Ratchet has been successful enough that we get more PS4 games going forward. Same for Sly Cooper etc...

@get2sammyb Whats the animosity towards Bloodborne? :/

@get2sammyb So Battleborn was a big seller on PC? is that what this means? Sorry, but I am trying to understand exactly what you mean by this. The trouble with these type of charts is that it doesn't distinguish between platforms so a game that also releases on multiple formats is likely to outsell others on a single platform. Surely though for Battleborn to be number 1, it has to sell more 'individual units' than the games below it - albeit across multiple platforms. Its also the only 'new' release in the chart and as a result is likely to sell more individual units as most 'fans' have already purchased the 'other' games on this list - whether it can sustain those sales or not, time will tell but I bet it won't be number 1 next week. I can see U4 missing out with Doom out this week too and that being sold on multiple platforms although I would still bet U4 to take the number 1 slot.

I am not criticising but just not sure of the wording used. I guess what you are saying though is that Battleborn hasn't sold well on consoles. The article doesn't show the sales figures or a break-down on the individual sales on each platform. I wouldn't be surprised if R&C had the highest sales figures on PS4 for this week. I could see BO3 (for example selling less PS4 copies but because of XB1 and PC (maybe even a few last gen copies) helping it to take the number 2 slot.

I am a little surprised to see BO3 back up to the number 2 slot with all the 'hate' aimed at Activision and Call of Duty - especially as the game is 6 months old too.

I'm not surprised, Battleborn is a pretty great game.

@BLPs
What animosity?

@Gamer83 I've just browsed the sites articles on the title, and even stuff from other titles that come close to the game but I've never seen the article itself be positive. It's almost like the game was made by a competitor that's just about dead beginning with the letter N or something.

@BLPs
You look for animosity where none exists.

@Gamer83
"We're not entirely sure how, but Battleborn has managed to top the UK sales charts"
"Still, credit where credit's due – we didn't think that Battleborn would even break the top ten."
" Look, we hate to be all cynical, but this may be the only way that Gearbox manages to shift any expansion packs for its forthcoming game. Battleborn's due out in a matter of days by the way. Nah, no one at Push Square Towers gives a hoot either…"
"Gearbox Software's sense of humour may prompt more raised brows than a certain politician with an exuberant comb over here at Push Square Towers, but that doesn't mean we can entirely forget that Battleborn exists – much as we'd obviously like to."
"We mean, why else would it negotiate exclusive early access to Battleborn's beta?"
"There's a trailer embedded below – it's awful, as you'd probably expect."
"Those that download the stress test will even get access to an extra character post-release. This is 2K basically saying: please, please try our game."

I don't mean to harp on the writers here, but I haven't seen this level of indifference/hate towards a game since the PS4 last failed to secure #1 in Japan for a week. I mean god damn, if you have nothing positive to say then don't mention the game. You did a good job barely mentioning anything that wasn't Uncharted 4 for a while, why waste time writing articles about a game you don't care about? Hell, looking over the more recent articles, all you've told me is it's an FPS/MOBA. That's nice. Is there anything else to it? Or does journalism stop at things you like?

@BLPs Sadly you're late to the party, here - we've already gone through this about a dozen times in numerous comments sections on other articles. Fact of the matter is that, aside from our prolific reviewer Alex Stinton, we don't really care for Battleborn, to the point where Sammy makes jokes about our outlook.

Let's leave it at that anyway - don't want this comments section turning into another argument about Battleborn and our viewpoint.

@Neolit "For the Players" except players of MOBAS

I don't appreciate MOBAS either. I live with a guy who streams DotA to the TV and tells me PC is the only form of life. Granted I have absolutely no idea whats going on on the screen and being colour blind probably doesn't help, or so he says. He also says I'm far too simple to understand real gameplay in a video game. I play a lot of Galaga on my PS4 is probably the basis for that. Or Sonic, or Mega Man, or something I like, god knows.

Ive got a feeling the gaming community as a whole is a bit fractured. Certain genres should stay to certain platforms seems to be the mindset. I mean I got into online multiplayer because of Splatoon of all things, on a dead console I barely use. Does that mean it has no right to exist on the system? Probably, but it shows it can work. Battleborn might not be a good game, from what I've seen it's an average but solid attempt at something the developers aren't familiar with, and I find that commendable.

I think a system with the install base and notoriety of the PlayStation 4/4.5/VR needs as many genres as humanly possible. All want those numbers to go up right? And hey, who knows, even if the game isn't good, it shows there is an appetite for it on dedicated gaming consoles, no matter how small, and that there is room for improvement.

I had no interest in episodic games or the "walking simulators" but seeing how they have blown up on consoles and how everyone likes them, it goes to show that when done right it does indeed have a place.

If I had to make this relevant to the viewpoint shown across the wider internet and the current console generation (Comprised of Xbox One and PS4) I would say "At least its a bad game that's new, as opposed to a remaster of a bad game". A fresh turd is better than a polished turd? I don't even know.

Decent week, played both the Battleborne and Overwatch beta's and Battleborne is a better game, has great PvP and an awsome CooP campaign. Overwatch only has PvP...

@BLPs walking simulators" but seeing how they have blown up on consoles and how everyone likes them .... Please stop spewing sh*t. I hate walking simulators..

Somehow the game plays worse then on the beta i just don't like as much......

@BLPs I think the sales of battleborn, the relative success of smite and paragon (my friends list is littered with people playing these at various times) shows that people are trying to broaden what types of games you would play on console. They see the spike of popularity in mobas, and want to try it on console since the learning curve on pc is quite drastic in terms of player difficulty I imagine at this point. I never thought I would be a walking sim fan, but over the years and my fondness of single player experiences has driven me to try, and wind up enjoying them greatly.

For me, it just seems like they have been the place for the best narration, and stories barring certain aaa titles. That, combined with my increased amount of time spent Co op, means these walking simulators are the perfect combination of length and story. It helps that my first one was telltale walking dead, 2 years after its release (I avoided spoilers), and it just blew me away. In the end I think the sales are showing people's desire to stray from the norm, to find that hidden gem which may give them a completely different experience. Even if the reviewsare not exactly stellar.

@xMEADx I had the same idea but now the full game seems worse then the beta plus overwatch plays faster less waiting and it's a lot of fun.

@get2sammyb Not really. I can understand why the 'individual' format list would be like that but an all-format list would to me be the one posted in the main article. In my mind at least Battleborn wouldn't have 2 entries because sales on all formats are added together to create a single number. I don't understand how Battleborn can be number 1 if its combined sales across all formats haven't outsold those of other games. If it has sold less on console than BO3, then it must have sold more units on PC to overtake the games below it.

For example if R&C sold 200,000 copies this week on PS4, BO3 sold 125,000 on PS4, 100,000 on XB1 and 25,000 on PC, that makes 250,000 copies and say Battleborn sold 95,000 on PS4, 90,000 on XB1 and 75,000 on PC that makes a combined 260,000 so therefore top of the charts. Individually Battleborn would still be under R&C and BO3 in the individual charts

In the example above - per format
R&C (PS4) - 200,000
BO3 (PS4) - 125,000
BO3 (XB1) - 100,000
BB (PS4) - 95,000
BB (XB1) - 90-000

All formats
BB - 260k
BO3 - 250k
R&C - 200k

The biggest seller on a single platform is still R&C but the biggest seller in terms of units sold is Battleborn as that (in the example above) sold 260k individual units compared to BO3's 250k and R&C's 200k.

At least that's how I understand it. If Battleborn really hasn't sold 'that' well on Consoles - enough units to make it 'top' the single format charts, it must have had a good showing on PC - much better than BO3 for example.

I guess I am struggling with the term 'individual' as I see 'each' game as an individual unit - not specific to a platform. Maybe it would be good to see a PS4 sales chart alongside the all format chart. The way this was worded to me read that R&C sold more copies than Battleborn but ended up in 3rd place. I guess I didn't put the word 'Platform' into either the sub heading or text (ie Ratchet & Clank still best selling individual 'platform' game, ...in terms of 'individual 'platform' units) and misinterpreted the article - sorry

@Neolit
I think what really chaps him is that a PlayStation website doesn't extol the virtues of Nintendo at every turn (that's what Nintendo Life is for but lets pretend that website doesn't exist, eventhough he frequents it). The fact not everybody loves Nintendo is a foreign concept to many people who frequent these three websites though. It's freaking hilarious. I actually don't have a problem with @BLPs, and many times enjoy his posts, even if he's cynical about everything because I agree with some of what he says. But it's gotten to a point where he just seems utterly miserable when he visits this website so why keep coming back? It'd be like me hitting up the movie theater every time a new chick flick comes out. Rom coms and the like are so cheesy and cringeworthy it almost makes me physically ill. I think sometimes when I read this guy's comments that that's how he feels when visiting here.

Battleborn was 3rd and 4th placed in the individuals (3rd best selling on PS4, 4th on XBOX One). Those combined sales were higher than the 1st placed (Ratchet and Clank, PS4) and 2nd (COD BO3, PS4).

Not sure why the individual sales matter, its the best selling game on consoles and 3rd best selling game on the PS4. In other news, Ratchet and Clank WAS the best selling game on PS4, not sure how as I think its a pile of trash and I can't wait to get it finished so I can trade it in ¬.¬

@MadAussieBloke
Still 14 hours to go before I can get my copy. It's going to seem like forever.

Sold like 17 copies in total on launch week at my store, dunno how it was no.1!

I'm really surprised battleborn reached No. 1.... it has the worst title ever for a videogame

@Gamer83 There's definitely a lot of bias when it comes to sales on NLife. There's always an excuse

Ratchet and Clank still number 1 on PS4 is very good going and definitely deserved. It's one of those games which I'll also come back to from time to time, hopefully this will encourage some sequels or maybe bring others out of retirement. Can't say I'm too interested in Battleborn though I am looking forward to Borderlands 3. Anyway I wonder what game will be number 1 next week

@BLPs

@BLPs I think you mean Battleborn, and yeah I see much animosity. I think it's because it takes actual skill, patience, and cooperation to play this game, which most gamers lack these days. Games with matches that last 5-10 mins and require no attention span are the popular big sellers.

@Cron_13 I don't see the allure of R&C either, I never got into it. It just reminds me of a prettier lego game.

There goes Sammy bashing battle born again. Just drop it already, it's old.

@Truth_Today glad its not just me! my comment was a bit flippant, but I really don't get why it's reviewed so well.

Reminds me a lot of Knack (which I definitely preferred), which got absolutely panned, yet R&C has reviewed so well. Different strokes for different folks I guess!

@Cron_13 I just don't understand the gaming world anymore, it's so angry and full of distrust and hate. Everyone is so damned spoiled rotten they don't respect how amazing all of these games are these days . And screw comparisons, I don't care if this game is like that game, or that game is like this game, each game is it's own creation and should be respected to a certian extent. None of these grown ass brats can make any of these extremely complicated, deeply imaginative games. Ugh. I'm sick of reading all the hate, and yes, I see the irony.

@Grawlog
It's not 'pent up rage.' All I did was point out the inconsistencies that I've seen and I've been posting at this website since it started and Nintendo Life even longer. On NLife they report things the same way and nobody says sh*t. And I'll continue to point it out the hypocrisy. I've called the writers on stuff before too but if a game outsold another in terms of individual skus and they point that out there's nothing wrong with it. It's no different than when other websites do it but people just can't stand to see Sony have some success these days and let people on a PS-specific website enjoy it.