Pharaoh huge flop and what that means for Warhammer 3

[Mazisky]

Total War Pharaoh has just launched and it peaked at 5k players, which is the lowest of any Total War game.

It is safe to assume it is the biggest flop ever for a main historical entry, for reference 3kingdoms, the last main historical title peaked at 180k players at launch.

First of all I am really sad that almost nobody is interested in this game and CA Sofia definitely deserves more but they were doomed with the poor choice of setting which offer little to none variety, not to mention a very high price for a Saga title in all but the name.

Second and most important, what that does means for Warhammer 3?

There are 2 main lines of thought:

-The flop of Pharaoh makes Warhammer 3 the only title that provide some consistent income to CA, which would make them focus more on Warhammer 3 and its support.

-The flop of Pharaoh would taint Warhammer 3 as CA is losing money so they would invest less in Warhammer 3.

I have mixed opinions about it and I wonder if supporting Pharaoh would benefit Warhammer 3 or not.

What do you think?

[Triple G]

I think most people who are into TW games play and own WH, too.

And then You have the choice to play a game with 24 factions - and multiple legendary lords - or a game with 3 factions and a half map in ancient Egypt, while they already show that they will release future DLC and expansions. I guess anybody who is remotely interested in the game would wait for the game to be finished and then buy the bundle. It probably also doesn´t feature any new groundbreaking mechanics - and people know how nice the existing mechanics work in their most expensive game.

[Merque]

Well I'll go so far as to agree that the chosen setting isn't one that is quite fit for a full total war title (which it is - it's NOT a Saga title).

This said I'm actually enjoying it quite a bit - it's not absolutely mind blowing but I like a lot of the mechanics that I've seen until now going in blind. (though there are some established mechanics and QoL things that haven't found their way in to Pharaoh).

The weekend will bring in some more players for sure - maybe it'll peak in the mid 5 digit region.

Thing what people don't want or seem to want to understand:
it's only a flop if it's not profitable and not if the playerbase perceives it to be a flop.

[Mazisky]

Originally posted by Merque:

Thing what people don't want or seem to want to understand:
it's only a flop if it's not profitable and not if the playerbase perceives it to be a flop.

5k players for a main historical title launch is not "perceived", it is a straight number and clear evidence.

Maybe the wrong "perception" is that of those who pretend it is not a flop despite those numbers.

[MjKorz]

Originally posted by Merque:

it's only a flop if it's not profitable and not if the playerbase perceives it to be a flop.

That's not how corporate greed works.

"Green arrow goes up? But why doesn't the green arrow go up faster?"

[Filthy Pollo 🐔]

They are still working on 4.1 patch and new DLC Thrones of Decay, let's see what happens.

[Merque]

Originally posted by MjKorz:

Originally posted by Merque:

it's only a flop if it's not profitable and not if the playerbase perceives it to be a flop.

That's not how corporate greed works.

"Green arrow goes up? But why doesn't the green arrow go up faster?"

Okay I tried to be brief for simplicity's sake, let me re-phrase: it's not a flop if it meets the targets that were defined/declared prior to launch. (it could still be a flop if said targets weren't set up high enough to e.g. cover costs, but lets assume the finance guys behind this aren't complete idiots).

[Zeek]

OP didn't shill hard enough :(

[4Life]

TBH I`d better buy another DLC for WH3/3Kgdms/Troy rather then a new entry which feels a bit empty at the start

[Merque]

Btw Pharaoh is currently on place 11 of the global selling list according to steam. But I guess that doesn't fit the narrative so I'll shut up

[Triple G]

Also having only 5k players on day one after release, might mean that many more people are getting clever - to not buy or play games on release. Those 5k are probably those who pre-ordered it for whatever reason.

[IonizedMercury]

Right now #11 in global top sellers.

Yeah, what a "flop".

[Mazisky]

Originally posted by Zeek:

OP didn't shill hard enough :(

Even if I buy it I would make little to no difference sadly. Still within the 5k players range.

CA Sofia didn't deserve this, they do a lot of stuff better than the team who worked on Warhammer 3 base game.

[Zeek]

Originally posted by IonizedMercury:

Right now #11 in global top sellers.

Yeah, what a "flop".

Sir this is a "everything is doomed" thread. Take your facts elsewhere please.

[Merque]

Originally posted by Zé Bonitinho:

Originally posted by Merque:

Btw Pharaoh is currently on place 11 of the global selling list according to steam. But I guess that doesn't fit the narrative so I'll shut up

Its launch day and its not even on the the new games list, has 5k players and neutral reviews. Its a HARD flop, wether you like it or not.

Yes, numbers be damned! Gut feeling is the only real science! That's the spirit!

[Mazisky]

Originally posted by Merque:

Originally posted by Zé Bonitinho:

Its launch day and its not even on the the new games list, has 5k players and neutral reviews. Its a HARD flop, wether you like it or not.

Yes, numbers be damned! Gut feeling is the only real science! That's the spirit!

Merque, in all honesty, would you consider 5k players at launch "good enough" for a main historical title when 3kingdoms made 180k?