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This is a dynamic list, and inherently not necessarily complete (reliable information is not available for some top-selling games) so numbering it could be misleading.
Bbctol (
talk)
20:52, 26 October 2023 (UTC)
yeah it can be misleading but it is a nice quality of life improvement to the list and can be a tool to catch errors (aka when numbers are updated but their position hasnt as that has happened before).
158.135.165.67 (
talk)
03:03, 9 November 2023 (UTC)
Numbering would suggest information that we have no proof of. The list does in fact not contain the top 50 best-selling video games but the 50 best-selling video games there is reliable sales data publicly available for. We can infer which games sold more copies than others to order the list but we can not be sure New Horizons is the 16th best selling video game, so we can not number it. Doing so thus wouldn't be just misleading but wrong.
Emberwit (
talk)
09:50, 9 November 2023 (UTC)
true but another is the induvial consoles have a number system for their game sales and unless they are Nintendo consoles the sales numbers can be all over the place. Minecraft for instance on the switch only has some numbers from Japan and European countries even though we are pretty sure it has sold a lot more (since the US numbers are missing). The list will never be perfect but it would say as of right now we can say these are the 50 best selling games that we can prove their numbers. Sure there are others that might have sold better but we don't know so we cant speculate.
158.135.165.67 (
talk)
19:10, 9 November 2023 (UTC)
RDR2 isn't even the best game of 2018 (God of War blows it out of the water), let alone a decade. What you're talking about here.
84.54.72.20 (
talk)
13:34, 25 November 2023 (UTC)
geometry dash has at least 240 million downloads for all platforms combined, and that was in 2018, it should be higher now, it should be added to the page [1]138.67.218.49 (
talk)
18:08, 30 November 2023 (UTC)
Nevermind this, I was confused somewhat by the article but I know realise that only includes PUBG sales with a price (before it went free-to-play) and that Minecraft Chinese edition should not be included.
Add Minecraft Dungeons at 25,000,000 confirmed sells
Minecraft Dungeons reached 25,000,000 sells and should be added to this list. Every copy costs money, and thus 25,000,000 confirmed players should be counted as sells on this list.
Furthermore, Mojang confirmes that these are all "unique players".
My source is Mojang, the owner and developer of the Minecraft Dungeons IP.
Unfortunately, we can't include this. Minecraft Dungeons is available on Xbox Gamepass, and Microsoft very clearly says "25 million confirmed players", not "25 million sales". I've played Dungeons on Gamepass. I did not buy the game. I count as a player, but not as a sale. --
ferret (
talk)
02:12, 16 December 2023 (UTC)
I have read through the previous discussion on this subject [2] and while I understand the counterarguments I still think not including Skyrim puts Wikipedia out of step with the general internet conversation. If you simply look up "Skyrim sales" in Google, every single top result cites the 60 million figure, including IGN's own list of the top ten best selling games (last I checked, IGN is a reliable source).[3] In the previous thread people objected to Skyrim's inclusion because Todd Howard is supposedly unreliable, but this is a clear double standard. The source for Cyberpunk 2077's sales is a statement from the CD Projekt Red CEO.[4] Why is the head of Bethesda Game Studios considered unreliable for this information but the head of CD Projekt is fine?
Shivj80 (
talk)
19:47, 3 December 2023 (UTC)
I think you didn't read the discussion close enough. First off, IGN's top ten list is based on IGN's own reporting on the Skyrim number, as the interview where Todd Howard offhandedly dropped the figure was to IGN. Todd Howard's unreliability is well established and he himself says "Don't trust everything I say in interviews". --
ferret (
talk)
20:54, 3 December 2023 (UTC)
So Todd Howard is unreliable, but CD Projekt Red, a company that has been sued for misleading statements, is reliable? This is just not a consistent standard at all. Even if Todd said not to trust his interviews (do you have a source for this quote?), there is no good reason to believe he would blatantly lie about Skyrim's sales figures. To underline this point, let me quote what the IGN article says:
"After years of silence regarding Skyrim's sales numbers, Bethesda's Todd Howard revealed in June 2023 that the RPG has sold over 60 million units since it was first released in 2011. "We’re sitting here, it’s 12 years after Skyrim," Howard told IGN. 'We’re looking at a game that has over 60 million copies, and all these people playing… they’re still playing it.'"
This sounds quite definitive. IGN doesn't put any disclaimers that "Howard is known to exaggerate" or anything like that. They accept the 60M figure as fact. If IGN, a known reliable source for gaming, accepts Todd's words as true in this instance, then his past unreliability is simply irrelevant.
Shivj80 (
talk)
01:08, 7 December 2023 (UTC)
Dude if the Skyrim developers or publishers themselves say that Skyrim has sold 60 million copies we will believe it and put Skyrim on the list.
Kazama16 (
talk)
09:31, 18 December 2023 (UTC)
Todd Howard is literally Bethesda's top developer. Why can't we trust his numbers when other websites are taking his numbers as fact?
Shivj80 (
talk)
02:57, 22 December 2023 (UTC)
Sonic Adventure Greatest 2,5 Million Sales
Sonic Adventure First Release Dreamcast Japan: 1998, Western: 1999. Later Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut Release GameCube Worldwide: 2003,PC Japan:2003, Western:2004,PS3 & XBOX360: 2010,Steam: 2011.
Prawira Hendrik (
talk)
14:36, 23 December 2023 (UTC)
Hello, I noticed that the Game Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is not on this list, though I know that it sold over 60 million copies to date, which would place it in the seventh position I believe. Please include Skyrim on this list. The ultimate source of this is The CEO of Bethesda, Todd Howard stating this fact in an interview with IGN a few months ago. The following links back this up:
"The best-selling video game to date is Minecraft"
I know that general consensus here is that Minecraft outsells Tetris, however there are several reliable (and some marginally reliable) sources that list Tetris over Minecraft. I personally agree with that assessment. Isn't outright saying that it is the best-selling game too bold of a statement when there are reliable sources that disagree? At the very least, would it be fair to alter the statement to say that it's "generally considered to be the best-selling game"?
To list a few:
The 10 Best-Selling Video Games of All Time - IGN
Top 10 Best-Selling Video Games Of All Time - GameSpot
The 15 Bestselling Video Games Of All Time (screenrant.com)
Man-Man122 (
talk)
20:58, 8 December 2023 (UTC)
Those sources are not credible. The fact that Minecraft has 300,000,000 sold copies is supported by Microsoft, the owner of the Minecraft IP.
Some sources claim that Tetris or other games have sold more, but either have incorrect information or a misunderstanding of videogame sells.
Tetris for example, went free-to-play, and thus it's sell count is capped at 100,000,000 and cannot increase even if more people download Tetris. Tetris also forked it's development and EA made a new Tetris game which is respectivily a new IP, and should be counted separately just like you count Pokémon games separately.
Despite this understanding, many sources count free downloads and combine the number of different IP's within a series, resulting in some sources claiming Tetris to have 520,000,000 sold copies, which is entirely false.
If we did this for Minecraft, for example, counting all Minecraft IP's, unsupported versions, and free releases, then Minecraft would have closer to 2,000,000,000 sold copies, which would also be completely incorrect.
Minecraft China Edition itself has 800,000,000 free downloads, and it would be unfair to count them.
The cumulative data in this wiki article follow rules.
It must be the same IP, and it must cost money. We are counting sells, not downloads.
Gather data from the IP owner, not videogames articles. Thank you.
@
CelesteTheArtist These sources are listed as such in Wikipedia's own page for reliable sources. The mobile Tetris in question that was said to reach 425 million sales (i.e. the one the reliable sources are counting) was, in fact, officially licensed with the Tetris IP, but most importantly, not free. These were paid downloads. Sales. Therefore, it follows these cumulative rules. I hope my perspective could be give some consideration. Thank you.
Man-Man122 (
talk)
23:29, 12 December 2023 (UTC)
Here, check this article for a better undertsanding of the metrics.
According to this article, 45,000,000 copies of Tetris for the Gameboy were sold, and that is on this list. Tetris EA for mobile sold 100,000,000 copies before going free and gathering 32,000,000 more downloads that can't be counted as sells.
Tetris for the Gameboy and Tetris EA were developed and published by different companies through licensing and cannot be counted as the same game, since the IP is different.
If you were to count them together, it would be 145,000,000 total sells for Tetris, which would not make a difference in comparison to GTA V or Minecraft, but would be infair to all other titles. We don't count all Pokémon games together, we don't count all GTA games togther, we don't count all Minecraft games together, we don't count all Tetris games togther.
Tetris for the Gameboy and Tetris EA are very much different, and not the same game. They are in the same franchise, but this isn't a list of best-selling franchises.
We wouldn't count all EA mobile Tetris games. Tetris Blitz, for example is not Tetris; it's a spinoff within the EA Tetris franchise.
The original EA Tetris for Mobile had 100,000,000 paid downloads before going free, then shutting down in April of 2020, where the IP was relicensed by The Tetris Company and released for free under a new developer.
@
CelesteTheArtist You don't even have to count Tetris blitz. It was free and never pay-to-play. I'm referring to the fact that Tetris' paid mobile sales reached 425 million. EA released another Tetris game on mobile. It was practically identical to it's other one. It was on many other platforms as well. It was pay-to-play.
Man-Man122 (
talk)
11:59, 13 December 2023 (UTC)
Perspective and fact are conflicting statements in this regard. Numbers are universal; there's no other way to look at them that doesn't include external bias.
Minecraft has 300,000,000 confirmed sold units
GTA V has 190,000,000 confirmed sold units
Tetris has 100,000,000 confirmed sold units
And so on...
The Tetris IP and franchise has had a long history of ownership and publishing from different developers and owners. Combining the sales of Tetris by Nintendo for NES/Gameboy and Tetris by EA for mobile would not make sense at all because these are separate publications by different companies. It's important to note that Tetris Nintendo and Tetris EA are not the same games.
A game can be developed for many platforms, and still be included in this list such as GTA V and Minecraft. The reason they are still counted, is because they are still developed by the same developer.
Minecraft, for example has always been developed by Mojang, and is currently published on various different platforms as one game.
@
CelesteTheArtist I'm referring to the EA mobile Tetris game that was released before the one you're referring too. If I recall, it was published by EA as well. It had 425 paid mobile sales. I'm not trying to combine the Gameboy with anything.
Man-Man122 (
talk)
11:34, 13 December 2023 (UTC)
Notice how you say "two different tetris games", and it doesn't matter if they are from the same publisher, since they are different entities. We can't count those games together, that's what the franchise list is for.
The functions of the games that I was fundamentally the same. Virtually identical. The same reason these should be counted together, is the same reason why Minecraft's Java sales are lumped with Pocket Edition and Console edition sales, despite the console and pocket edition having some modes and features that console doesn't/didn't(and vice verse). I have read the BBC article before, but I don't remember the BBC becoming the ultimatum on all facts. As such, there are sources listed by Wikipedia as credible that disagree with the BBC's conclusion, such as Forbes and IGN. Wikipedia didn't have a problem with listing Tetris with its 495 million sales at the top of this list until rather recently. Regardless, there are credible sources the disagree with the BBC, as well as Wikipedia, in this regard.
Man-Man122 (
talk)
13:41, 10 January 2024 (UTC)
The point of this discussion was to point out that reliable sources disagree on this. That is objectively true and I believe that the article should reflect that.
Man-Man122 (
talk)
00:00, 11 January 2024 (UTC)
Hi,
I suggest a change to the Top50 table of the Best Selling Games, since I'm not authorized to make any edits to the page.
Very recently Capcom has updated their list of Best Selling Titles, and Monster Hunter: World reached a total of 24.1m copies sold (which is expect to further increase due to heavy sales in January). The 24.1m amount ranks the game above "Nintendogs" and "Mario Kart DS". To avoid any confusion regarding the source, the "Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition" cited by Capcom is simply a bundled version of the game with the expansion "Iceborne" included.
It's quite literally the portal Capcom uses for Corporate & Investor Relations, to share news and data with investors and outlets. They cannot fake or lie about this, it's a publicly traded company.
Outlets and forums have reported on this, but of course they all use the same source, since it's the most direct source possible, Capcom itself.
Ponyra (
talk)
19:47, 13 February 2024 (UTC)
I request this edit again, this time providing multiple sources as requested last time.
Very recently Capcom has updated their list of Best Selling Titles, and Monster Hunter: World reached a total of 24.1m copies sold (which is expect to further increase due to heavy sales in January). The 24.1m amount ranks the game above others in the list. To avoid any confusion regarding the source, the "Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition" cited by Capcom is simply a bundled version of the game with the expansion "Iceborne" included.
NES classic is a straight port and Deluxe is a refined copy with also the Japan Mario 2 also there. But these at the end of the day are the original NES game
158.135.160.154 (
talk)
03:57, 13 February 2024 (UTC)
This has been discussed and beaten into the ground over the years, but Henk Rogers is not seen as a reliable source here, especially as he does not represent EA. That's why this very same claim is also excluded from that actual article on Tetris EA. --
ferret (
talk)
16:54, 12 January 2024 (UTC)
According to various sources, The Elder Scrolls V - Skyrim has between 60 and 65 million downloads! It definitely needs to be added to the list!
79.238.233.101 (
talk)
09:58, 21 April 2024 (UTC)
There are several discussions about this above, and more in the
archives. The issue appears to be that the number is sourced to a single comment by Todd Howard, who some editors say has a history of false statements (I don't know about this person or have an opinion). This will probably remain controversial until a new source is published.
Jamedeus (
talk)
02:31, 9 May 2024 (UTC)
Sea of Thieves needs added to this list
Sea of Thieves announced 40 million copies sold on April 16th, 2024. This can be seen on a community post on their YouTube channel or on a post in the news section of their website. Can they be put on this list?
Bushi0000 (
talk)
22:28, 8 May 2024 (UTC)
Not done are you talking about this
[3] Well, it says players, not copies or units sold, so that's why. If you want detailed explanation, then the word "players" indicates how many people have played the game, not how many people have purchased it.
Kazama16 (
talk)
17:31, 9 May 2024 (UTC)
Removal of Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn shouldn't be included in the list, my prove is the source itself.
[4] It just mentions the sales of the franchise and
Horizon Forbidden West. Where does it specifically mention Horizon Zero Dawn sales? If its just a judgement then it should be removed from the list.
Kazama16 (
talk)
17:52, 9 May 2024 (UTC)
Not done: Per the talk section above and the consensus in the archive. Statista is unreliable. All such claims go back to a single IGN interview about Starfield with Todd Howard. Bethesda has not given an official figure. --
ferret (
talk)
13:24, 12 June 2024 (UTC)
Not done: Not a new source. This source has been repeatedly discussed and is not considered a reliable figure. --
ferret (
talk)
18:52, 14 June 2024 (UTC)
Would you be willing to provide a quick summary on why? I'm not trying to argue against this decision, I am genuinely curious as to the reasons against.
64.178.145.226 (
talk)
19:41, 14 June 2024 (UTC)
Henk Rogers is considered unreliable for several past statements and claims that were not backed by anyone else, and was not in a position to really speak for every company. Some of his statements have directly contradicted statements from the actual developers. This claim has never been made outside of this interview, or confirmed by any company in an otherwise official statement. Rogers claims 425 million... EA themselves, the actual developer/publisher, only claims 100. --
ferret (
talk)
21:06, 14 June 2024 (UTC)
IS WIKIPEDIA THIS INACCURATE?
I find it disappointing that something THIS far off base which anyone can do a quick google search on and see 20 top ten lists from 20 reputable sources, all of which would be the same, is on wikipedia. Old wikipedia, sure. But i thought things were vetted now. Makes me rethink using Wikipedia at all. Wow.
2601:541:E01:7D60:14:4CF:B7F:17A3 (
talk)
14:07, 22 June 2024 (UTC)
i'm not good with editing wikipedia pages, but the terraria developers have released updated sales stats saying the game has sold 58.7 million copies now which would put it at number 8
Not done: as the source states, "With the PS5 selling 50 million units, that also means the pack-in game Astro's Playroom has shifted at least that many copies as well, it seems." Means that they are presuming the sales, not confirming.
Kazama16 (
talk)
18:42, 29 June 2024 (UTC)
I request that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim be added to the list of best-selling video games of all time as according to multiple sources and a quick Google search, that game across all platforms and re-releases since its November 2011 has sold roughly 60+ million copies as of June 2023.
Isaacbeeby8 (
talk)
05:55, 2 July 2024 (UTC)