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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

In a Q&A session for shareholders, Capcom’s representatives reported that Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the developer’s brand-new IP, did not meet its sales targets (source: GameBiz).

According to Capcom, despite Kunitsu-Gami receiving positive media reviews as well as high scores from players, the Japanese folk-tale-inspired strategy game did not sell as many units as planned. The company attributes this to insufficient marketing and the failure to generate buzz prior to release. Currently, Kunitsu-Gami is rated Generally Favorable on Metacritic, with a Metascore of 80 and a User Score of 7.9. On Steam, the game is rated Very Positive with over 1,149 reviews.

Unfortunately, it seems this did not translate to commercial success, at least not to the degree Capcom had in mind. On the other hand, Capcom reported that sales of new titles from existing franchises, such as Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection and Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, have been progressing according to forecasts.

Capcom’s earnings for the first half of the fiscal year were weak compared to last year, but the company says it’s firmly on course to achieving its annual targets, especially considering the upcoming launch of Monster Hunter Wilds.

Capcom’s new IP Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess missed sales targets despite high reviews - AUTOMATON WEST

In a Q&A with shareholders, Capcom reported that Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess didn't sell as planned despite high review scores.

automaton-media.com

 

[nial]

I still don't get why it didn't get a retail release. It's $50.

 

[Exede]

Never heard of this game before

 

[Hrk69]

Shame. I loved it.

Definitely deserves more recognition

 

[TrueLegend]

Offbeat marketing.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Isn't this some kind of tower defense game?

If so, that would probably explain it.

 

[spons]

Never heard of this game before

Basically this.

 

[Felessan]

I though simultaneous release saves games from failure /s

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

Never heard of this game before

Basically this.

You're on GAF, you should have heard of it.

One of the most original releases not only this year but ever, shame, new IP's like this should be rewarded, it's genuinely great.

 

[fbnaulin]

Sad. I loved this game, beautiful art and gameplay. One of my favorites this year.

 

[lh032]

Never heard of this game before

thats why we kept getting horizon games.

 

[SJRB]

Price is way too high for such a niche game.

Huge error in judgement on their part.

 

[Deft Beck]

Really niche game from a presentation and gameplay perspective. Well produced and fun, but not for the mass audience.

 

[kruis]

Isn't this some kind of tower defense game?

If so, that would probably explain it.

Yeah. I tuned out when I heard the game described as a "tower defense" game. Sick of that genre. The game looks lovely though. Very cool art style.

 

[Darsxx82]

It is not a type of game to the taste of the masses. It has had NO visibility or marketing beyond launching day one on Gamepass. It is a strange case that Capcom did not make any effort in a marketing campaign and even more so new IP that needs twice as much.

From the statements it seems that they have appreciated the mistake and are going to try to improve in that aspect (perhaps too late).

Personally, I think it's a well-finished game with a very interesting aesthetic. But it's not the type of game that hooks me and if it wasn't for the fact that it was released on Gamepass I don't think I would have attended to its existence and looked at other types of games.

 

[KàIRóS]

The biggest hidden gem this year IMO.

 

[saintjules]

Never heard of this game before

Revealed during the Capcom showcase June 2023. I believe it's still on gamepass.

 

[Thief1987]

Never heard of this game before

You haven't lost anything

 

[struggler_guts]

With zero marketing, no physical release, and a 50 buck pricetag???

Pisses me off how stupid publishers can be, especially their "analysts" overestimating sales on everything just for a positive forecast...

And this game is genuinely awesome!

 

[Xavier2337]

Almost finished it with gamepass(only the last stage left)
the art is top tier not into TD genre but still enjoyed it, not enough variations for level design, but I guess its a low-budget game

everyone who has gamepass should give a try

 

[Punished Miku]

The game isn't too expensive in any way. The game had marketing at large events watched by millions.




It's the same thing as the Slitterhead thread, or The Ascent, or Flintlock, or almost any new IP that isn't a AAA game. You guys barely notice, and don't have any interest in taking a chance on something new. You want more remakes like Dead Rising.

 

[SJRB]

The game isn't too expensive in any way. The game had marketing at large events watched by millions.




It's the same thing as the Slitterhead thread, or The Ascent, or Flintlock, or almost any new IP that isn't a AAA game. You guys barely notice, and don't have any interest in taking a chance on something new. You want more remakes like Dead Rising.

 

[Fabieter]

I was told that multiplatform games will always hit the sales target. Seems thats not always the case.

 

[Punished Miku]

I didn't say anyone was wrong, I just said there's no interest - which is just a fact. Capcom has done almost nothing but remakes for this entire generation with the exception of Exoprimal and Kunitsu-Gami I think. No one gave a shit about either and they're both great.

We're in an era of safe and conservative taste. That goes for games, music, movies. It's in the OP. Sales of existing franchises that people are familiar with are progressing as planned. New IPs aren't.

 

[Kokoloko85]

New IPs for the likes of Capcom, Namco, Sega, etc are harder than people think. Over 50% of the time they arent gonna work out

 

[Kokoloko85]

The game isn't too expensive in any way. The game had marketing at large events watched by millions.




It's the same thing as the Slitterhead thread, or The Ascent, or Flintlock, or almost any new IP that isn't a AAA game. You guys barely notice, and don't have any interest in taking a chance on something new. You want more remakes like Dead Rising.

Yes agreed. People arent willing to try because it doesnt look AAA.

Something like Slitterhead, I think the price make a huge different. £20-30 enjoyable and worth the try. Like games like Siren on PS3, they werent too expensice.
£47+… not really worth risking. I like the game, but the price should be a bit cheaper

 

[Stu_Hart]

I tried the demo out of curiosity, and I didn't really like it. I also saw streams of my fave streamers playing it, and I couldn't get through watching it fully. That game is just not for me.

 

[MayauMiao]

First time I heard of this. Marketing really failed this game.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Niche genre and bad marketing. The game is very good.

 

[Danjin44]

New IPs for the likes of Capcom, Namco, Sega, etc are harder than people think. Over 50% of the time they arent gonna work out

But some games worked surprisingly well like Unicorn Overlord.

Not only that lot of things stack against it, like being Ogre battle style SRPG which is already niche, while releasing same month as FFVII Rebirth and no PC release.

This was again same case with 13 Sentinels which is even more niche and also released same year as FFVII Remake and once again no PC release.

Still both manged to do well.

Word of mouth helps a lot.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Isn't this some kind of tower defense game?

If so, that would probably explain it.

There's an audience for tower defense games, believe it or not. Just compare those two:

Imo the failure here is because of the marketing, being 50 buckos and being on GP.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Word of mouth helps a lot.

Chocolate elfs wearing leotards help a lot too.

 

[Kokoloko85]

But some games worked surprisingly well like Unicorn Overlord.

Not only that lot of things stack against it, like being Ogre battle style SRPG which is already niche, while releasing same month as FFVII Rebirth and no PC release.

This was again same case with 13 Sentinels which is eve more niche and also released same year as FFVII Rebirth and once again no PC release.

Still both manged to do well.

Word of mouth helps a lot.

Yes, I wonder what it is. Maybe there are smaller games with studios that there fanbase follow closely like Unicorn Overlord makers?
Maybe Sega/atlus wasnt the best example from me

 

[John Bilbo]

Strategy game? I thought it was an action / hack & slash game.

 

[[Sigma]]

So much for boasting about 500,000 players early after launch. It's almost as if player count doesn't mean shit in a paid game that isn't live service.

People knew about the game. It was at several events seen by millions but people just chose to ignore it. And it wasn't a title that went viral so people stayed in their comfort zone. So you know what that means, more complaining about sequels and remasters.

 

[hemo memo]

Never heard of this game before this thread.

 

[baphomet]

Of course it didn't.

It launched direct to a rental service.

It was also a weird ass half tower defense game.

 

[Danjin44]

Chocolate elfs wearing leotards help a lot too.

 

[Punished Miku]

Of course it didn't.

It launched direct to a rental service.

It was also a weird ass half tower defense game.

New IP being on Gamepass is proving again and again to be a great lifeline. They got marketing and guaranteed payment. You have that backwards. Exoprimal was also largely carried by Gamepass.

 

[nial]

It's Capcom's best game this gen by a large amount. Sad to see that shitty Dead Rising remake selling much better in comparison.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

There's an audience for tower defense games, believe it or not. Just compare those two:

Imo the failure here is because of the marketing, being 50 buckos and being on GP.

Sure, I never said there isn't an audience. There always is an audience for any game.

But as you point out, $50 for a tower defense game is pushing it.

That Bloons only cost $14.

 

[TintoConCasera]

There always is an audience for any game.

Not for Concord.

 

[Punished Miku]

Sure, I never said there isn't an audience. There always is an audience for any game.

But as you point out, $50 for a tower defense game is pushing it.

That Bloons only cost $14.

Maybe so. If I had to pinpoint anything else, probably the name didn't do it any favors. Should have been called Battle Princess: Origins.

 

[Schmendrick]

I loved the game buuuuut...

Rather niche genre,
==> zero marketing <==
and too high a price for what it is (imho)

I was rather interested in that game from the moment I learned of its existence, but even I wouldn`t have known it actually released if it hadn´t been for some thread here on GAF. The general audience`s reaction when hearing that title is probably:

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

If they release it in physical format, I would buy it.

It is one of those games that is very difficult to buy.

I hope they release it in a limited way.

 

[Porcile]

Add it to the dead Capcom IP pile then.

 

[Aion002]

I played at launch on gamepass and is great.

I will probably buy it during next year golden week sale for less than 15 usd.

If they had sold a disc version I would have paid full price.

 

[kurisu_1974]

I liked it, but it don't think anyone knows this game exists. Had fun with it though, and it was free on Gamepass for PC.

 

[Fake]

There was no market for this game. I only know this game launch after this thread.

 

[Black_Stride]

But some games worked surprisingly well like Unicorn Overlord.

Not only that lot of things stack against it, like being Ogre battle style SRPG which is already niche, while releasing same month as FFVII Rebirth and no PC release.

This was again same case with 13 Sentinels which is even more niche and also released same year as FFVII Remake and once again no PC release.

Still both manged to do well.

Word of mouth helps a lot.

Vanillaware?
Mate whats the last Vanillaware game that didnt do well?

Even Grand Knights near literally sold out, they basically sold every copy they printed and its a PSP game from 2011........The PSVita was like a month away.