How Much Did Dead Rising 4 Sell? A Deep Dive into the Game’s Sales Performance
Dead Rising 4 sold roughly 1.4 million units across all platforms. This figure, while seemingly respectable for many games, fell significantly short of Capcom’s expectations. Despite selling over a million copies within its first month and reaching two million during its launch window, the game’s overall performance was considered a commercial disappointment, largely attributed to a lukewarm reception from both critics and long-time fans of the series.
Dead Rising 4’s Sales Journey and Context
The game launched as a timed exclusive for Xbox One and PC in late 2016. Although it initially generated decent sales momentum, it didn’t maintain the strong performance needed to meet Capcom’s internal targets. The numbers contrast sharply with the success of the previous main entry, Dead Rising 3, which moved approximately 4.4 million units. This stark difference highlights the critical reception issues and the negative impact on sales of the game’s choices.
The 1.4 million unit sales for Dead Rising 4 are particularly striking when considering that the Dead Rising franchise had reached a total of 16 million copies sold by June 30, 2023, making it Capcom’s sixth most successful intellectual property. However, it also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of maintaining quality and fan expectations, especially in a long-running series.
The disappointing sales figures of Dead Rising 4 ultimately led to several significant outcomes. Critically, it led to the cancellation of Dead Rising 5 and the eventual closure of Capcom Vancouver, the studio responsible for the game. The game’s underwhelming reception also affected the overall perception of the Dead Rising franchise, leaving its future in question.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dead Rising 4’s Performance
What factors contributed to Dead Rising 4’s underperformance?
Several elements are cited as reasons for the game’s lackluster performance. These include:
- Tone and Humor: The game’s attempt at humor fell flat, detracting from the gritty, zombie-slaying atmosphere that fans of the series had come to love. Critics felt the humor was forced and often missed the mark.
- Gameplay Changes: The removal of the time limit, a staple of the series, was another point of contention. Many fans found it altered the series’ strategic and tense gameplay. Additionally, there were adjustments made to the maniac system, with less emphasis on memorable psychopath encounters and more on less distinct “maniac” encounters, which were less impactful.
- Franchise fatigue: Some critics cited series fatigue as one reason why Dead Rising 4 did not do as well as expected.
- Technical issues: Some players reported performance issues and bugs, which detracted from the overall experience.
How did Dead Rising 4 perform compared to other entries in the series?
Dead Rising 4 sold considerably less than Dead Rising 3 (4.4 million units). While the original Dead Rising and its sequel, Dead Rising 2, performed reasonably well, Dead Rising 4 marked a significant drop-off in sales, highlighting the negative impact of the game’s changes on player reception. Dead Rising 2: Off the Record sold 1.4 million copies, which matches Dead Rising 4’s sales, showing that while the sales were not atrocious, they didn’t live up to the hype.
Was Dead Rising 4 a financial failure?
While not a catastrophic financial failure, the game did not meet Capcom’s internal targets and was considered a disappointment commercially. Its sales figures were substantially less than expected and likely contributed to the financial issues that led to the closure of Capcom Vancouver.
Did the PC release help boost Dead Rising 4’s sales?
The PC release did provide a sales boost, contributing to the overall 1.4 million figure. However, it was not enough to turn around the game’s overall performance. The core issues with the game’s design, tone, and gameplay continued to impact player reception across all platforms.
Did Dead Rising 4’s reviews affect its sales?
Absolutely. The game received mixed to negative reviews, with many critics citing the aforementioned issues related to tone, humor, and gameplay changes. Negative reviews are known to have a significant impact on game sales, especially during the launch period.
What was the reaction from fans to Dead Rising 4?
The fan reaction was largely negative. Long-time fans of the Dead Rising series expressed disappointment with the game’s changes, feeling that it strayed too far from what they loved about the franchise. The removal of the time limit and the shift in tone were major points of contention.
Why did Capcom remove the time limit in Dead Rising 4?
According to Capcom Vancouver studio head Joe Nickolls, the decision to remove the time limit was based on research that showed the majority of players did not like the mechanic. The decision was also influenced by the game’s expanded open-world nature.
Did the game’s open-world design contribute to its issues?
While the open-world design was intended to enhance the gameplay experience, many players found that the loss of the time limit and the diluted “maniac” system made the world feel less engaging and rewarding to explore than the closed environments of previous entries.
What happened to Capcom Vancouver after Dead Rising 4’s release?
Capcom Vancouver, the studio that developed Dead Rising 4, was ultimately closed by Capcom due to a financial crisis partly attributed to the game’s underperformance. This also resulted in the cancellation of Dead Rising 5.
Was there ever a plan for Dead Rising 5?
Yes, Dead Rising 5 was in development at Capcom Vancouver shortly after the release of Dead Rising 4. However, the project was canceled due to the studio’s closure.
How many combo weapons are in Dead Rising 4?
There are 47 different combo weapons and eight combo vehicles in Dead Rising 4, offering a wide variety of options for players to combat the zombie hordes.
What are some popular weapons in Dead Rising 4?
One of the most popular and powerful weapons in Dead Rising 4 is the Laser Sword. This sci-fi weapon can slice through multiple zombies at once and is known for its effectiveness. Other weapons include many different silly and creative weapons as the previous entries.
Is Frank West the protagonist of Dead Rising 4?
Yes, Frank West returns as the protagonist of Dead Rising 4. He is now working as a college photography teacher when another zombie outbreak takes place in Willamette 16 years after the events of the first game.
Was Dead Rising inspired by Dawn of the Dead?
Yes, the original Dead Rising game draws significant inspiration from George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, with both stories featuring zombie outbreaks in malls. The original Dead Rising is seen as a video game interpretation of that film.
Will there be any more Dead Rising movies?
There have been two Dead Rising movies: Dead Rising: Watchtower (2015) and Dead Rising: Endgame (2016), both continuing the story of Chase Carter. As of now, there are no announced plans for additional films in the Dead Rising franchise.