Fall Guys has exceeded expectations on all fronts. Whether Mediatonic can keep the momentum going is unclear, but it's undoubtedly laid the foundation. | Source: Mediatonic
By this point, we don’t need any more proof that Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Mediatonic’s delightfully colorful battle royale, is a bona fide hit.
Millions of hours clocked on Twitch, 2 million copies sold on Steam, and Mediatonic’s servers buckling under the demand all point to one conclusion: Fall Guys is one of 2020’s biggest surprises.
And somehow, the launch has been even more impressive on PlayStation 4 (PS4).
According to the PlayStation Network API-mining website Gamstat, a staggering 8 million players have vied for a crown as one of Fall Guys’ adorable beans .
The player count has steadily increased since the game launched on Aug. 4, surpassing 3 million within a day, and surging past 8 million last weekend.
Gamstat tracks player counts based on trophies earned. This is a reliable indicator because players earn Fall Guys’ easiest achievement, One Small Trip, when they qualify for the next round for the first time.
The data is pulled straight from PlayStation’s network. Gamstat boasts a respectable track record with estimates that broadly match those released by PlayStation and other publishers in the first weeks after release.
It’s still worth noting these aren’t official numbers and are likely off the mark to some extent (Gamstat gives a 10% margin of error).
Compared to the 2 million copies sold on Steam within a week, it’s remarkable stuff for an indie title developed by a small team. After all, these are figures usually reserved for AAA releases.
Video: Fall Guys Offers a Delightful Twist on the Battle Royale Formula
Sony secured a deal to have Fall Guys launch as one of August’s PlayStation Plus freebies , which certainly helped tempt players. It will be interesting to discover what portion of the 8 million players bought the game outright and how many claimed the game via PlayStation Plus.
Either way, Fall Guys has exceeded expectations on all fronts. Whether Mediatonic can keep the momentum going is unclear, but it’s undoubtedly laid the foundation.