Skyrim Is the Fastest-Selling Steam Game Ever
By Kyle Mann | December 15, 2011 | News | No comments | Share
Zenimax today unleashed a torrent of shocking statistics on its most recent Bethesday release, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. While we all knew the game was very successful in its opening weeks, the complete numbers for the first month or so of availability are nothing short of staggering.
10 million copies of the game have shipped to retailers, as distinct from actually being sold through to consumers. Still, it’s an impressive feat for any game, let alone an RPG–a genre that traditionally doesn’t move as many units as its shooter brethren. Equally impressive is the success the game has found among PC gamers, as Zenimax claims it’s outsold all other PC games three-to-one since release. We’re not sure precisely where Zenimax got those numbers or whether they reflect traditionally secretive Steam tallies, but if it’s anywhere in the ballpark of the accurate numbers it’s a huge triumph for Bethesda.
Skyrim also apparently is the fastest-selling Steam game in the service’s history, validating the publisher’s decision to integrate Steamworks and promote the digital release alongside the traditional retail copies. Valve was similarly enthusiastic about the sales volume across its platform:
Bethesda's commitment to and understanding of the PC as a gaming platform shows in the great review scores, spectacular launch, and continued high player numbers that Skyrim has received. We are delighted that Bethesda chose to use Steamworks to support Skyrim both at retail and digitally.Jason Holtman, Valve Corp
No matter how you slice it, Skyrim‘s an absolute monster, and should only further the acclaim and recongition of the two-decade old RPG series.
