A Deeper Look at Alan Wake 2’s Sales Performance

According to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, the absence of Alan Wake 2 from the top 20 sales charts is primarily due to data reporting challenges. Circana relies on data from physical retailers and select digital data provided by publishers and storefronts. Notably, certain publishers, like Nintendo, do not share digital sales data with Circana. In the case of Alan Wake 2, since it had no physical release and its publisher Epic Games doesn’t provide digital sales data to Circana, the sales performance remains undisclosed. Piscatella did mention that Alan Wake 2 ranked 147th on Xbox Series and 115th on PlayStation 5 in Monthly Active Users (MAUs) in November, offering some insight, but the complete sales picture remains unclear. Ampere Analysis’ Piers Harding-Rolls estimates that globally, on consoles alone, Alan Wake 2 sold approximately 850,000 copies by the end of November.

The absence of Alan Wake 2 from the top 20 sales charts is attributed to data reporting challenges, with Circana relying on incomplete data from physical retailers and select digital sources. Notably, publishers like Nintendo and Epic Games, which don’t share digital sales data, contribute to the incomplete picture. Mat Piscatella mentioned that Alan Wake 2 ranked 147th on Xbox Series and 115th on PlayStation 5 in Monthly Active Users (MAUs) in November, offering partial insight. According to Ampere Analysis’ Piers Harding-Rolls, Alan Wake 2 sold around 850,000 copies globally on consoles alone by the end of November. While this figure may seem relatively low, comparing it to Remedy’s previous title Control, which sold two million units in its first year, provides context. Control’s sales included a physical release, but even with that, only 10% were reported as digital. The decision to forgo a physical edition for Alan Wake 2 might have saved Remedy money, and word-of-mouth could play a significant role in its success over time. Remedy has not responded to requests for comment.