GameStop: Watch Dogs Breaks Record for Most Next-Gen Preorders

[BlameTheWizards]

GameStop: Watch Dogs Breaks Record for Most Next-Gen Preorders

Demand for the game is so great that the retailer plans to open 3,500 of its U.S. stores for launch events prior to the game's May 27 release.

The buzz surrounding Watch Dogs has grown to a fever-pitch with the game's release now only days away. Nobody seems to be more aware of that than GameStop, who recently reported that Ubisoft's open world game is breaking preorder records.

Watch Dogs is "proving to be the highest preordered next-generation console game" in the retailer's history, according to Bob Puzon, GameStop's senior vice-president of merchandising, via GameSpot.com. GameStop did not reveal what title previously held that record.

The high demand for the game has led GameStop to open 3,500 of its U.S. stores on the night of Memorial Day, May 26, for launch parties ahead of the title's May 27 release. The launch parties will feature contests, giveaways, new game footage and the chance to play the PS4 version of Watch Dogs starting at 9 p.m.

Developer Ubisoft is also reporting that Watch Dogs has now become the second-most preordered game in the company's entire history. The company says the title is on track to become the most successful new IP in video game history, though as GameSpot.com points out that's a claim that is also shared by Activison's upcoming shooter Destiny.

The Watch Dogs launch trailer was released earlier this week. Check it out <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/trailers/9251-Watch-Dogs-Launch-Trailer>here. The game will be available May 27 for PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS3 and Xbox 360. A Wii U version will follow later this year.

Source: GameSpot.com

Permalink

 

[synobal]

Can we stop calling it next-gen? Also don't think most current gen preorders less than a year after the consoles launch is hardly news worthy.

 

[Gxas]

Can we stop calling it next-gen? Also don't think most current gen preorders less than a year after the consoles launch is hardly news worthy.

I was thinking the same thing. Why the hell is it still "next-gen" when the generation is upon us?

 

[Irridium]

Can we stop calling it next-gen? Also don't think most current gen preorders less than a year after the consoles launch is hardly news worthy.

I was thinking the same thing. Why the hell is it still "next-gen" when the generation is upon us?

You guys realize this was a thing with the 360/PS3 until, like, a few years after the console were out, right? Just what people refer to it as since most don't have the new consoles. So for many it still is next-gen.

 

[Gxas]

Can we stop calling it next-gen? Also don't think most current gen preorders less than a year after the consoles launch is hardly news worthy.

I was thinking the same thing. Why the hell is it still "next-gen" when the generation is upon us?

You guys realize this was a thing with the 360/PS3 until, like, a few years after the console were out, right? Just what people refer to it as since most don't have the new consoles. So for many it still is next-gen.

Yep, and I was saying the same thing all those years ago too.

It, to me, is current-gen. I don't even have, or plan on getting a PS4 or Xbox One for a long, long time, and it is current-gen.

If the future is now, it is no longer the future.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Can we stop calling it next-gen? Also don't think most current gen preorders less than a year after the consoles launch is hardly news worthy.

I was thinking the same thing. Why the hell is it still "next-gen" when the generation is upon us?

Because most people haven't bought the latest generation console?

 

[RonHiler]

First major game released on the new consoles breaks new console records.

In other news: The sky is blue, water is wet, and characters die in Game of Thrones.

 

[synobal]

First major game released on the new consoles breaks new console records.

In other news: The sky is blue, water is wet, and characters die in Game of Thrones.

Dude spoilers....

 

[Zontar]

People actually pre-ordered this game? Wow, when I hear jokes about pre-orders getting out of hand, I usually think of them as just that: jokes. But people really pre-ordered a game we know nothing about in terms of quality? And from a publisher who's on the list of ones not worth trusting to boot? Call me naïve, but I thought we where better then to let another game be successful on pre-orders alone given how many times we've been burned.

 

[Dragonbums]

People actually pre-ordered this game? Wow, when I hear jokes about pre-orders getting out of hand, I usually think of them as just that: jokes. But people really pre-ordered a game we know nothing about in terms of quality? And from a publisher who's on the list of ones not worth trusting to boot? Call me naïve, but I thought we where better then to let another game be successful on pre-orders alone given how many times we've been burned.

To be fair the preorders could just be people who have had it on order for the longest time and either paid it off in full and see no point in retracting now, saw the recent trailers and decided that graphics be damned they will still order it for plot, and/or Gamestop is manipulating really old preorder to claim that they exceeded pre orders.

 

[ThatQuietGuy]

Not surprising considering this is supposed to be one of the first games to really take advantage of the new tech, or at least is was supposed to be. Anyway I'd be more interested in hearing how this compares to the average triple A release on 360/ps3, I think that would be more telling.

 

[LobsterFeng]

Something tells me a lot of people are going to be disappointed.

 

[Akisa]

With all the pre order stuff I've decided to opt out on pre orders and wait for game of the year edition. Considering how we don't know what we're getting I rather play it safe.

 

[Nowhere Man]

People just don't have the willpower to resist the hype. I'll wait for the inevitable deep discount later this year or maybe even depending on dlcs, the GOTY edition.

 

[Baresark]

Can we stop calling it next-gen? Also don't think most current gen preorders less than a year after the consoles launch is hardly news worthy.

I was thinking the same thing. Why the hell is it still "next-gen" when the generation is upon us?

You guys realize this was a thing with the 360/PS3 until, like, a few years after the console were out, right? Just what people refer to it as since most don't have the new consoles. So for many it still is next-gen.

Yep, and I was saying the same thing all those years ago too.

It, to me, is current-gen. I don't even have, or plan on getting a PS4 or Xbox One for a long, long time, and it is current-gen.

If the future is now, it is no longer the future.

I think they are simply citing the fact that the preorders are high for the actual next-gen consoles, which is the PS4 and Xbone at this point. Current gen is PS3/360.

OT: I can't believe people bought into the hype. I definitely have to wait for reviews on this. I wonder how many pre-ordered one of their 5 special editions... of all the idiocy.

 

[tacotrainwreck]

So Gamestop is announcing a new next-gen pre-order record... but is NOT revealing what game it dethroned? Why not? That just doesn't add up. And, when that first game DID hold the pre-order record, why wasn't it announced for that game at that time? Honestly, I don't believe the news. It's an advertising lie, and they are likely making money for saying it.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Considering there's only about 5 big budget titles on the "current gen" platforms, it's not hard to be the biggest pre-order. Good for them. It speaks volumes about the skills of the marketing/hype machine that a game involved in so many scandals can still sell so well.

 

[Rozalia1]

Just one of those games that is pushed so high that is guaranteed to sell well. Had a friend just up and tell me out of the blue that he was going to get watchdogs...couldn't really give a reason not to buy it honestly as I know it will likely be mechanically sound, have decent amount of content, and all that...but to me it just looks really dull... though I know he'd (and many other people) would enjoy it.

 

[Kaymish]

i was seriously considering preordering it but with ubisoft putting the review embargo out until launch day it really raised a bunch of red flags for me so im not going to touch it with a barge pole until a few weeks after release the trailers and stuff make it look cool but with a lack of reviews and how ive been stung by preorders in the past no thanks i dont want to get shat on again

 

[Novander]

I preordered. My copy arrived this morning (PS4). I can't speak to the gameplay, having not got too far into it, but damn is Chicago beautiful. It's full of so many little details that really bring the city to life; if that's where all the extra processing went that stops the graphics reaching 1080, I think they made the right choice.