God of War's success so far has been self-evident, with the 2018 continuation of the popular franchise earning an outstanding critical reception as well as impressive initial sales. But an announcement from Sony now shows that even early reports may have underestimated the extent of the game's success. God of War is now the PlayStation 4's fastest selling exclusive, selling an astonishing 3.1 million units in just three days.
In recognition of the record-setting God of War sales, Sony Santa Monica Studio head Shannon Studstill provided a message thanking fans for their support:
"I would like to personally thank the millions of fans around the world who decided to embark on Kratos’ latest adventure with us. Your support is truly inspiring, and it’s a reason why we push ourselves every day to go beyond the boundaries of play. I’d also like to thank our Creative Director, Cory Barlog, and Director of Product Development, Yumi Yang and our entire amazing team at Santa Monica Studio. The belief in the game’s vision and the passion for storytelling across the team is undeniable. We look forward to hearing more about how fans are creating new memories of their favorite God of War gameplay moments that will be remembered for a long time."
The 3.1 million global sales were measured from launch on April 20 through April 22, with no clear distinction made between pre-orders and post-launch sales. If Sony provides further sales information for God of War in the weeks to come, it will help paint a picture regarding the game's potential for sales post-launch. Since God of War likely won't offer any post-launch content or DLC, continued sales through 2018 are extremely important for the series' future, even with the record-setting launch.
Comparing God of War's initial sales to other major PlayStation exclusive releases helps show just how impressive of an achievement the record is. Uncharted 4, the console's previous most prolific release, was confirmed to have sold 2.7 million units, but over seven days rather than three. The Last of Us, perhaps the PlayStation 3's biggest exclusive, is closer in numbers. It sold 3.4 million units over three weeks, not three days.
God of War's sales numbers and Sony's willingness to quickly share those numbers shows just how meaningful the release is. Sony clearly sees a bright future for the franchise. Kratos is back, and game director Cory Barlog's tentative thoughts about five God of War sequels are closer to becoming a reality than ever before. In the meantime, don't be surprised to see God of War break a few more sales records.
God of War is currently available exclusively for the PlayStation 4.