Gears of War: E-Day Only Sold 320,000 Copies So Far?!

Summary

The video discusses reported sales of Gears of War: E-Day, arguing that strong reviews may not have translated into strong full-price sales. The subtitles give conflicting estimates: the opening refers to 320,000 copies sold in the first week, while figures cited later estimate about 230,000 copies—168,000 on Steam and 62,000 on Xbox. Microsoft had not confirmed these estimates.

The video also cites estimates of 1.7 million Game Pass players, including roughly 722,000 who paid $30 for a premium-edition upgrade to play early. The host and the analyst argue that many subscribers may have played through Game Pass instead of buying the game outright, without generating enough new subscriptions to make up for those lost sales. These figures are presented as estimates, not verified results.

The host suggests several factors may have limited sales: the game’s Xbox exclusivity (it is not on PS5), its availability on Game Pass at launch, and the host’s skepticism about the audience the game was aimed at. He says Xbox could have chosen not to put the game on Game Pass, while acknowledging that keeping it exclusive was understandable as an attempt to strengthen Xbox.

The discussion questions whether the subscription strategy benefits major releases. The host says he prefers owning games and predicts Game Pass could eventually focus more on older titles, with new games added a year or two after release. The cited analyst suggests that changing the cost of day-one access might help, though the host is doubtful about the current model.

The host also reacts to an estimated $37 million in total revenue, including $26 million attributed to Xbox, and wonders how that compares with a reported $400 million development cost. Neither figure is independently verified in the video.

Gamers and Sources Mentioned

• Tyrone Magnus — video host and commentator.
• Kotaku — the article being discussed.
• Alinea analyst Elliot — cited for sales and Game Pass estimates, reportedly posted on X.
• Asha — mentioned by the host in connection with comments about Xbox’s Game Pass strategy.