This article lists PC sales figures. The best selling personal computer (PC) game of all time is PUBG, after it surpassed The Sims.
Market research firm, NPD Group only began tracking online subscription in February 2008. As of June 2008, they do not track microtransactions or digital downloads.[1] Issued quarterly, the Video Game & PC Game Subscriptions Report will be based on data collected from over 3 million survey participants and include information on online subscriptions to MMO games and digital downloads. According to NPD Group, online subscriptions generate $1 billion annually. [2]
Sales revenues[]
- See also: PC gaming, Steam, and Video game industry
Worldwide PC game industry:
- 2017 - $33 billion[1]
The largest PC gaming markets:
- China – $13.1 billion (2016)[2]
- United States – $5.3 billion (2017)[3]
- South Korea – $2.34 billion (2016)[4]
- Japan – $1.8 billion (2015)[5]
- Germany – $1.4 billion (2015)[5]
- United Kingdom – $800 million (2016)[6]
- Russia – $600 million (2016)[7]
United States PC game industry:
- 2017 - $5.3 billion[8]
- 2015 - $4.2 billion[5]
- 2007 - $910.7 million
- 2006 - $970
- 2005 - $953 million and $1.4 billion (includes some online gaming sales)
- 2004 - $1.1 billion
- 2003 - $1.2 billion (52.8 million units)
- 2002 - $1.4 billion (61.5 million units)
- 2001 - $1.75 billion (83.6 million units)
- 2000 - $1.78 billion (84.9 million units)
- 1999 - $1.9 billion
- 1998 - $1.8 billion
2000s[]
2008[]
- PC sales May 2008
- PC sales June 2008
2007[]
2002[]
1990s[]
- "Player Stats: Top 10 Best-Selling Games, 1993 – Present". Computer Gaming World (170): 52. September 1998. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_170/page/n55.
1980s[]
Video games pioneered the home computer revolution in the early 1980s.[9]
This section lists the sales of video games released for older 1980s personal computer platforms, such as the Amiga, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore VIC-20, Commodore 64, FM-7, FM Towns, MSX, NEC PC-88, PC-98, Sharp X1 and X68000. The computer game industry was much smaller when these platforms were active, but gradually increasing; the best-selling computer game up until 1980 sold 50,000 copies,[10] a major hit in 1983 would have sold around 50,000 copies, and a major hit in 1985 would have sold around 150,000 copies.[11] As such, the threshold is at least 35,000 sales for titles released up until 1982, 50,000 for titles released in 1983, and at least 100,000 sales for titles released from 1984 onwards.
Game | Release year | Copies sold | Market | Sales as of | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Last Ninja 2 | 1988 | 5,500,000 | Worldwide | 2000 | [12] |
The Last Ninja | 1987 | 4,000,000 | Worldwide | 1995 | [12] |
Pac-Man | 1983 | 2,000,000 | USA | 1989 | [13] |
Ghostbusters | 1984 | 2,000,000 | Worldwide | 1989 | [14] |
Kung-Fu Master | 1985 | 2,000,000 | Worldwide | 1985 | [15] |
International Karate | 1985 | 1,500,000 | Worldwide | 1995 | [16] |
Hydlide | 1984 | 1,000,000 | Japan | 1990 | [17][18] |
Thexder | 1985 | 1,000,000 | Worldwide | 1990 | [19] |
RoboCop | 1988 | 1,000,000 | Worldwide | 1991 | [20] |
Lode Runner | 1983 | 1,000,000 | Worldwide | 1999 | [21][22] |
Elite | 1984 | 1,000,000 | Worldwide | 1996 | [23] |
Rick Dangerous | 1989 | 1,000,000 | Worldwide | 1991 | [24] |
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? | 1985 | 800,000 | Worldwide | 1989 | [25] |
Karate Champ | 1985 | 500,000 | USA | 1989 | [25][22] |
The Death Trap | 1984 | 500,000 | Japan | 1985 | [26] |
Jet Set Willy | 1984 | 500,000 | Europe | 2000 | [27] |
The Way of the Exploding Fist | 1985 | 500,000 | Europe | 1986 | [28] |
Football Manager | 1982 | 500,000 | Europe | 1988 | [29] |
The Hobbit | 1982 | 500,000 | Worldwide | 1989 | [28] |
Wizardry | 1981 | 500,000 | Worldwide | 1989 | [25] |
California Games | 1987 | 500,000 | Worldwide | 1989 | [22] |
The Bard's Tale | 1985 | 407,000 | Worldwide | 1989 | [30] |
Xanadu: Dragon Slayer II | 1985 | 400,000 | Japan | 1985 | [31][32][33] |
Sokoban | 1982 | 400,000 | Japan | 1988 | [34] |
Karateka | 1984 | 400,000 | Worldwide | 1991 | [35] |
Zork | 1980 | 378,987 | Worldwide | 1986 | [36] |
Out Run | 1987 | 375,000 | UK | 1988 | [37][38] |
Sabre Wulf | 1984 | 350,000 | Worldwide | 2007 | [39] |
Skyfox | 1984 | 317,545 | Worldwide | 1986 | [40] |
Hyper Olympic 1 (Track & Field 1) | 1984 | 300,000 | Japan | 1989 | [41] |
The Bard's Tale | 1985 | 300,000 | Worldwide | 2003 | [42] |
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar | 1985 | 300,000 | Worldwide | 1990 | [43] |
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | 1984 | 254,249 | Worldwide | 1986 | [36] |
Karnov | 1987 | 250,000 | USA | 1988 | [22] |
Ring King | 1988 | 250,000 | USA | 1988 | [22][44] |
F-15 Strike Eagle | 1984 | 250,000 | USA | 1987 | [22] |
Dungeon Master | 1987 | 250,000 | Worldwide | 1995 | [45] |
Door Door | 1983 | 200,000 | Japan | 1985 | [46] |
1942 | 1986 | 200,000 | UK | 1986 | [47] |
Gauntlet | 1986 | 200,000 | UK | 1987 | [48] |
Zork II | 1981 | 173,204 | Worldwide | 1986 | [36] |
Chessmaster 2000 | 1986 | 160,000 | Worldwide | 1987 | [49] |
The Black Onyx | 1984 | 150,000 | Japan | 1986 | [50] |
The Seven Cities of Gold | 1984 | 150,000 | Worldwide | 2003 | [51] |
Wishbringer | 1985 | 150,000 | Worldwide | 2014 | [52] |
Deadline | 1982 | 140,719 | Worldwide | 1986 | [36] |
Zork III | 1982 | 129,232 | Worldwide | 1986 | [36] |
Ultima III: Exodus | 1983 | 120,000 | Worldwide | 2008 | [53] |
Zaxxon | 1983 | 100,000 | USA | 1985 | [22] |
Will: The Death Trap II | 1985 | 100,000 | Japan | 1986 | [54] |
Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer | 1987 | 100,000 | Worldwide | 1987 | [55] |
Paperboy | 1986 | 100,000 | Worldwide | 1989 | [56] |
Suspended | 1983 | 99,956 | Worldwide | 1986 | [36] |
Starcross | 1982 | 90,315 | Worldwide | 1986 | [36] |
Mystery House | 1980 | 80,000 | Worldwide | 2003 | [57] |
Portopia Renzoku Satsujin Jiken | 1983 | 60,000 | Japan | 1983 | [58] |
Choplifter | 1982 | 60,000 | Worldwide | 1983 | [59] |
Wizard and the Princess | 1980 | 60,000 | Worldwide | 2010 | [60] |
Microchess | 1976 | 50,000 | Worldwide | 1980 | [10] |
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness | 1981 | 50,000 | Worldwide | 1990 | [61] |
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress | 1982 | 50,000 | Worldwide | 1990 | [62] |
Temple of Apshai | 1979 | 40,000 | USA | 1982 | [32] |
K-Razy Shoot-Out | 1982 | 35,000 | USA | 1982 | [63] |
Apple Galaxian | 1980 | 5,000 | USA | 1980 | [64] |
1970s[]
The following table lists the best-selling personal computers in the 1970s.
Rank | Computer | Manufacturer | Year | Sales | As of | Generation | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | TRS-80 | Tandy | 1977 | 450,000 | 1979 | 8-bit | [65] |
2 | NEC PC-8001 | NEC | 1979 | 150,000 | 1979 | 8-bit | [66] |
3 | Atari 400 / 800 | Atari | 1979 | 100,000 | 1979 | 8-bit | [65] |
4 | Commodore PET | Commodore | 1977 | 79,000 | |||
5 | Apple II | Apple | 1977 | 43,200 | |||
6 | Altair 8800 | MITS | 1975 | 25,000 | 1978 |
Computer sales[]
The following table lists the sales milestones of best-selling personal computers.
Year | Computer | Manufacturer | Sales milestone | Generation | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1974 | Sord SMP80/20 | Sord | 1 | 8-bit | [67] |
1975 | Altair 8800 | MITS | 5,000 | 8-bit | [65] |
1976 | 11,000 | ||||
1977 | Altair 8800 | MITS | 21,000 | ||
TRS-80 | Tandy | 100,000 | |||
1978 | TRS-80 | Tandy | 250,000 | ||
1979 | 450,000 | ||||
1980 | 740,000 | ||||
1981 | 990,000 | ||||
1982 | Atari 400 / 800 | Atari | 1,200,000 | ||
TRS-80 | Tandy | 1,290,000 | |||
1983 | TRS-80 | Tandy | 1,490,000 | 8-bit | |
Atari 400 / 800 | Atari | 1,700,000 | |||
Commodore 64 | Commodore | 2,200,000 | 8-bit | ||
1984 | Commodore 64 | Commodore | 4,700,000 | 8-bit | |
1985 | 7,200,000 | ||||
1986 | 9,700,000 | ||||
1987 | 11,200,000 | ||||
1988 | 12,450,000 | ||||
1989 | 13,700,000 | ||||
1990 | 14,400,000 | ||||
1991 | 15,200,000 | ||||
1992 | 15,500,000 | ||||
1993 | 15,675,000 |
References[]
- ↑ http://strivesponsorship.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SuperData-2017-year-in-review-digital-games-and-interactive-media.pdf
- ↑ https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-07-05-chinese-games-market-is-the-worlds-biggest-at-USD25-6bn
- ↑ https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/xbox-one-x-microsoft-fights-back-booming-console-market/
- ↑ https://technology.ihs.com/592232/games-market-monitor-korea-pc-online-games-market-2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-08-02-pc-games-revenue-to-hit-usd42-billion-in-2020-dfc
- ↑ https://newzoo.com/insights/infographics/the-uk-games-market-2016/
- ↑ https://newzoo.com/insights/infographics/russian-games-market-2016/
- ↑ https://newzoo.com/insights/articles/xbox-one-x-microsoft-fights-back-booming-console-market/
- ↑ High-tech Society: The Story of the Information Technology Revolution. 1987. p. 155. https://books.google.com/books?id=Gqgb946KPfQC&pg=PA155.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Personal Software Introduces Backgammon & Checkers Programs". Intelligent Machines Journal. January 21, 1980. p. 10. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
- ↑ Katz, Arnie (January 1985). "1984: The Year That Shook Electronic Gaming". Electronic Games 3 (35): 30–31 [30]. https://archive.org/stream/electronic-games-magazine-1985-01/Electronic_Games_Issue_35_Vol_03_11_1985_Jan#page/n29/mode/2up. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Mark Cale interrogation". Retro Gamer (18): 56–57 (57). October 2005.
- ↑ Pac-Man
- ↑ Advokat, Stephen (August 31, 1989). "Movies hit a smaller screen". Detroit Free Press. p. 19. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Kung-Fu Master
- ↑ Fox, Matt (3 January 2013). The Video Games Guide: 1,000+ Arcade, Console and Computer Games, 1962-2012, 2d ed.. McFarland & Company. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-7864-7257-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=xzMYYrsDaAEC&pg=PA150.
- ↑ John Szczepaniak, History of Japanese Video Games, Kinephanos, ISSN 1916-985X
- ↑ John Szczepaniak (2016), The Untold History Of Japanese Game Developers, Volume 2, pages 38-49
- ↑ "Back Cover", Fire Hawk: Thexder The Second Contact (Game Arts & Sierra On-Line), 1990, https://www.mobygames.com/game/64/fire-hawk-thexder-the-second-contact/cover/group-1984/cover-81/, retrieved February 10, 2012
- ↑ Mellor, Robert (January 2008). "The Making Of: RoboCop". Retro Gamer (Future Publishing) (46): 62–65. http://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/the-making-of-robocop/.
- ↑ "Lock'n'Lode". IGN. Ziff Davis. February 17, 1999. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 Petska-Juliussen, Karen; Juliussen, Egil (1990). The Computer Industry Almanac 1990. New York: Brady. pp. 3.10–15. ISBN 978-0-13-154122-1. https://archive.org/details/computerindustry00kare/page/n265/mode/2up.
- ↑ https://ia802704.us.archive.org/31/items/nextgen-issue-021/Next_Generation_Issue_021_September_1996.pdf#page=70
- ↑ https://www.amigareviews.leveluphost.com/bluesbro.htm
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Worley, Joyce (December 1989). "Mega Hits: The Best of the Best". Video Games & Computer Entertainment (11): 130–132, 137, 138. https://archive.org/details/video-games-computer-entertainment-issue-11-december-1989/page/n133.
- ↑ "Hironobu Sakaguchi : 'The Lost Art of Telling a Story'". Gameblog (in French). 4 September 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
- ↑ https://archive.org/details/RetroGamer_No1-No11/Retro%20Gamer%20%E2%84%9607/page/n23/mode/2up
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Beam Software Company History". Beam Software. Archived from the original on October 21, 1997. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ↑ https://ia800700.us.archive.org/12/items/cvg-magazine-099/CVG_099_Feb_1990.pdf#page=46
- ↑ Maher, Jimmy (November 21, 2016). "Memos from Digital Antiquarian Corporate Headquarters". The Digital Antiquarian.
- ↑ "Xanadu Next home page". Retrieved September 8, 2008.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Hendricks, Fayyaad (December 22, 2011). "A complete history of role-playing videogames: Part 2". EL33TONLINE. Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
- ↑ Koyama, Yusuke (2023-06-02). History of the Japanese Video Game Industry. Springer Nature. p. 31. ISBN 978-981-99-1342-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=uITCEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA31.
- ↑ Green, W., ed. (1988). "Made in Japan". InCider 6: 158. https://books.google.com/books?id=M2NRAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ↑ https://www.amigareviews.leveluphost.com/princepe.htm
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6 "Great Scott: Infocom's All-Time Sales Numbers Revealed". GameSetWatch. Think Services. September 20, 2008. Archived from the original on September 24, 2008. Retrieved September 23, 2008.
- ↑ "Game of the Year". Your Sinclair (28 (April 1988)): 64–5. 10 March 1988. https://archive.org/details/your-sinclair-28/page/n63/mode/2up.
- ↑ "Amiga". Crash (55 (August 1988)): 71. 28 July 1988. https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine-55/page/n71.
- ↑ Parrish, Peter (October 18, 2007). "Sabrewulf". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on August 19, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
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suggested) (help) - ↑ "Skyfox". Ray Tobey. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ↑ "BCNニュースのMSX記事が熱い?!". MSX研究所日記 (in Japanese). 2008-11-09. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
- ↑ Wilson, Rusel DeMaria; Johnny L. (2003). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2. ed.). New York [u.a.]: McGraw-Hill/Osborne. p. 209. ISBN 0-07-223172-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=HJNvZLvpCEQC.
- ↑ The Official Book of Ultima, second edition, by Shay Addams, page 56
- ↑ Staff (November 1989). "Chart-Busters; SPA Platinum". Game Players (5): 112. https://archive.org/details/Game_Players_Issue_05_November_1989/page/n115.
- ↑ https://www.amigareviews.leveluphost.com/dungeonl.htm
- ↑ Fujii, Daiji (2003). "Entrepreneurial Choices of Strategic Options in Japan's RPG Development" (PDF). p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
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(help) - ↑ 1942 (ZX Spectrum) Manual
- ↑ "Out Run". Crash (49): 22–23. February 1988. ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/magazines/Crash/Issue49/Pages/. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Games That Grownups Play". Time 130: 196. 1987. https://books.google.com/books?id=bjwnAQAAIAAJ. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ↑ Edge Staff (March 6, 2008). "THE MAKING OF... Japan's First RPG". next-gen.biz. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
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suggested) (help) - ↑ Wilson, Rusel DeMaria; Johnny L. (2003). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2. ed.). New York [u.a.]: McGraw-Hill/Osborne. p. 176. ISBN 0-07-223172-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=HJNvZLvpCEQC.
- ↑ Maher, Jimmy (April 10, 2014). "Wishbringer". The Digital Antiquarian.
- ↑ Barton, Matt (May 26, 2008). "Book Extract: Dungeons and Desktops: 'The Silver Age'". Gamasutra. p. 4. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ↑ Fujii, Daiji (2003). "Entrepreneurial Choices of Strategic Options in Japan's RPG Development" (PDF). p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
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(help) - ↑ "Yeager Leads Video Games Resurgence". Press-Courier. December 13, 1987. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ↑ https://www.zx-spectrum.cz/zxsr/zxsr.php?id=3603
- ↑ Wilson, Rusel DeMaria; Johnny L. (2003). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2. ed.). New York [u.a.]: McGraw-Hill/Osborne. p. 135. ISBN 0-07-223172-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=dAF-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT514.
- ↑ "潮 [Tide]" (in Japanese). 潮 (372-374): 361. 1990. https://books.google.com/books?id=DHI3AAAAIAAJ. "このゲームは当時、六万本の売り上げを記録し、アドベンチャーゲームのなかでも突出した人気を誇っていた。"
- ↑ "Games". InfoWorld 5 (14): 4. April 4, 1983. https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ↑ Steven Levy (2010). Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution (1st ed.). Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Media. p. 259. ISBN 1-4493-8839-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=mShXzzKtpmEC&pg=259. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ↑ The Official Book of Ultima, second edition, by Shay Addams, page 16
- ↑ The Official Book of Ultima, second edition, by Shay Addams, page 23
- ↑ "List of Top Sellers". Computer Gaming World 2 (5): 2. September–October 1982. http://pdf.textfiles.com/zines/CGW/1982_0910_issue6.pdf#page=4.
- ↑ https://retro365.blog/2023/10/15/apple-galaxian-that-vital-japanese-connection/
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 Reimer, Jeremy (2005-12-15). "Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
- Jeremy Reimer (2012-12-07). "Total Share: Personal Computer Market Share 1975-2010". Jeremy Reimer.
- ↑ West, Joel (January 1996). "Moderators of the Diffusion of Technological Innovation: Growth of the Japanese PC Industry" (PDF). Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations. University of California, Irvine. pp. 9–10. alternate url
- ↑ "【Sord】 SMP80/x series". IPSJ Computer Museum. Information Processing Society of Japan. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
External links[]
- Guter, Anthony. "Best Sellers". Mastertronic.
- Best Selling Spectrum Game
Video game sales figures | ||
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NPD sales figures (U.S.) · Media Create sales figures (Japan) · Chart-Track sales figures (Europe) · PC sales figures |
Best selling video games | |
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List of best-selling video games · List of highest-grossing video games
Franchises · United States (NPD) · Japan · Best selling new IPs |