Poking, prodding and massaging NPD U.S. videogame sales data, Gamasutra has arrived at the conclusion that the average owner of a console version of Call of Duty: World at War spent $9 on downloadable content.
DLC packs were released in March, June and August of this year with a price of $10 apiece. 6.5 million packs had been sold as of August, with the author rounding up to 7.0 million in order to make sales current. Based on estimates of an analyst, it was estimated that 65% of the 7.0 million DLC sales were within the U.S., meaning an approximate $45.0 million in additional revenue for Activision Blizzard stateside.
The average price paid for World at War was $56.00, adding in the total spent on DLC brings the total average price spent to $65.00, increasing revenue per software unit by 15% (with reduced overhead), ensuring that DLC is not going away anytime soon:
With Modern Warfare 2 expected to best World at War's 11 million units in sales, it seems certain that consumers will again be tempted with paid DLC throughout 2010 as Activision Blizzard attempts to maximize its revenue per sale.
Comments
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
I just recently rented CoD:WaW and as a renter I really have no interest in buying these map packs.
That said my not buying these packs was not due to Treyarch not trying to get me to buy them. Three out of four lobbys you join are sitting on an optional map...and even should that get voted off more than half the time you get another optional map..which means a mass exodus of those who dont have the map..which prolongs the lobby experience. And god forbid you end up sitting in the lobby until the game loads at which point you're told you don't have the map to play (which is fine) and without asking are directed to the marketplace tab to purchase map packs(quite annoying). Both of these issues really soured my online experience with the game and ultimately makes me not want to play another CoD made by Treyarch outside of single player.
I certainly dont mind DLC maps as an option. However it must remain exactly that. Do not overpopulate playlists with optional maps. Allow individuals to filter optional content from their matchmaking. When these optional maps become nigh-forced upon you in order to enjoy the game it becomes a hinderance and shows poorly on the companies involved.
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
DLC is a reason why used games are healthy for the industry.
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
they make that much money from dlc and still want to bump up the price? if anything it should be cheaper
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
I don't understand it at all. CoD:WaW was absolute crap - at least compared to CoD4. I mean, sure - I bought the game, but I could always turn around and resell it to cut my losses. Can't do that with DLC. But I guess some folks actually liked it enough to pay for a second helping of crap.
It just goes to show that some folks will enjoy whatever the industry throws at them. Well, I guess Halo 3 and Gears of Homoeroticism proved that already.
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
Two words: Nazi Zombies.
Everybody I know who owns World At War bought additional mappacks solely for the Nazi Zombie maps, including myself. The sales for the mappacks would be at least half as much if Nazi Zombies was not involved, I garauntee you.
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
I admit it, I bought all 3 map packs just for Nazi Zombies. 24, 22, 16, 35 are my records, most of them with 2 people ;)
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
You mean they're making money off DLC?! Wow I never saw that coming!
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
Are we to assume the next COD game will be World at War 2?
Re: Analysis: DLC Pays off for World at War Franchise
if so i want a god damn Axis campaign