According to recent data from The NPD, survival-horror game The Callisto Protocol is being out-sold by Minecraft, the original version of which launched in 2011. The Callisto Protocol launched in December to mixed reviews, which may have played a role in the game struggling to make much of an impact with its sales.
Reports indicate that The Callisto Protocol is failing to meet its sales expectations, with data from The NPD Group suggesting it didn't even crack the top 10 best-selling games for December 2022. The 10 best-selling games for December 2022 were reportedly, in order, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, God of War Ragnarok, Madden NFL 23, FIFA 23, Sonic Frontiers, Elden Ring, Need for Speed: Unbound, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion.
Unfortunately for developer Striking Distance Studios and publisher Krafton, The Callisto Protocol landed at the 17th position. Other games ahead of it included NBA 2K23, Just Dance 2023 Edition, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Minecraft, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Nintendo Switch Sports. The only games that The Callisto Protocol beat were Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which originally released in 2020, Splatoon 3, and Gotham Knights.
While Minecraft was the oldest game to beat The Callisto Protocol in sales, other titles that are years old outpaced it as well. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is about five years old, yet it reportedly sold more in December 2022 than The Callisto Protocol did. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe released for the Switch in 2017, but the original version was a Wii U game that launched in 2014. New content is still released on a regular basis for Minecraft and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, though no new DLC is planned for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at the time of this writing.
The Callisto Protocol's mixed reviews and the fact it was a new IP likely played a big role in the game failing to live up to sales expectations. It will be interesting to see if post-launch support for the sci-fi horror game can turn things around. The Callisto Protocol's latest update added the requested New Game+ feature, and there are many future updates planned for the game as well. It's possible these updates and other new content will help drum up more interest in The Callisto Protocol, though that remains to be seen.
It's also worth pointing out that The Callisto Protocol came out during the busy holiday shopping season. It being a new IP with no real name recognition and a horror title at that likely worked against it.
The Callisto Protocol is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: The NPD Group, IGN