Frostpunk 2 Sales Success Tarnished by Sharp Share Price Drop

Frostpunk 2 Sales Success Tarnished by Sharp Share Price Drop

Frostpunk 2 Breaks Even with 350 Copies Sold

The much-anticipated city-building survival game Frostpunk 2 has officially crossed a major sales milestone, selling over 350,000 copies since its release on September 20. This news was shared by the game’s developer, 11 bit studios, who confirmed that sales have been strong enough to cover the costs of development and marketing for the game.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Frostpunk 2 has already sold more than 350,000 copies and that the revenue generated has fully covered our production and marketing expenses,” 11 bit studios said.

Despite these impressive early numbers, the celebration comes with a bittersweet note. While sales have been sufficient to break even, the developer’s stock has seen a sharp decline in the wake of the game’s release.

Stock Price Drop After Frostpunk 2 Release

Following the release of Frostpunk 2, the share price of 11 bit studios plummeted by a staggering 38%, as reported by Reuters on September 23. The developer saw an even more significant drop of 50.88% in just five days, primarily due to lower-than-expected player counts and mixed reviews on Steam.

At launch, Frostpunk 2 peaked with 35,533 concurrent players on Steam. While this is an increase over the original Frostpunk’s launch peak of 29,361 players, it still falls short of the anticipated range of 80,000 to 100,000 players. Analysts had expected significantly higher player engagement, leading to the steep decline in the company’s stock value.

Mixed Player Reception Impacts Sales Expectations

In addition to the lower player numbers, Frostpunk 2 has received a mixed response from players, impacting its overall perception. The game currently holds a 71% rating on Steam, earning it a “Mostly Positive” status. However, this relatively lukewarm reception raises concerns about the long-term performance of Frostpunk 2 in the market.

Erste Group analyst Piotr Bogusz pointed out that the Frostpunk 2 rating could significantly impact its visibility and future sales on Steam. “A drop in the average rating below the 80% threshold affects the game’s visibility on Steam, which could translate into sales,” Bogusz stated regarding Frostpunk 2.

The developers of Frostpunk 2 believe that this mixed reception may stem from players’ expectations of a direct sequel to the first game. Investor relations manager Dariusz Wolak commented, “We, as a product, feel very good about it. The sales in this period around the premiere are also as we expected.” However, Wolak acknowledged that some players may have been disappointed because Frostpunk 2 is not a simple clone of the original. Instead, it offers a new experience built from the ground up, which may not align with players’ expectations for Frostpunk 2.

Despite these challenges, 11 bit studios remains optimistic about the future of Frostpunk 2. The team is actively working on updates and patches to improve player experience, and they’ve emphasized their appreciation for player feedback in this critical phase for Frostpunk 2.

In conclusion, while Frostpunk 2 has enjoyed a successful launch in terms of sales, the developer now faces the challenge of managing player expectations and navigating a sharp stock decline. It will be interesting to see how Frostpunk 2 evolves with ongoing updates and how it performs in the weeks to come.

Moving forward, 11 bit studios aims to regain investor confidence and stabilize their stock price by continuing to support Frostpunk 2 with regular updates, hotfixes, and new content. With a dedicated fanbase and ongoing improvements, Frostpunk 2 could still achieve long-term success despite its rocky start.

Source : IGN, X

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