GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Fallout 4 Ships 12 Million Copies in One Day, Breaks Records

Huge numbers reported for Bethesda's RPG.

274 Comments

Fallout 4's launch was a huge success. Bethesda announced today that the game shipped 12 million copies worldwide for launch day alone, "representing sales in excess of $750 million." In addition, the game is generating "record sales" at brick and mortar stores and across Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and PC.

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Bethesda did not say how many of those 12 million copies shipped to retailers were actually sold through to consumers. The $750 million number likely represents the total possible revenue, if indeed all 12 million were actually sold. We've contacted Bethesda in an attempt to learn more about Fallout 4's performance.

"Major retailers have informed Bethesda of the tremendous consumer interest in Fallout 4 , with some noting it was the most pre-ordered game this year," Bethesda added, noting that the Pip-Boy Edition became the fastest-selling collector's edition for any game in history "at leading retailers."

"Following the release, Bethesda was advised that launch day sales at some of the leading retail chains were the largest of any game released this year," the company explained. "Bethesda is now shipping more Fallout 4 units to retailers to meet ongoing market demand."

By comparison, the last game from Bethesda Game Studios,--2011's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim--shipped 7 million copies in 48 hours to retailers and sold through 3.5 million to consumers during that period. As of January 2014, the game had sold through to consumers 20 million copies worldwide.

On Steam alone, Fallout 4 was the top-played game at launch, at one time reaching over 470,000 concurrent players. This blasted past a previous record held by Grand Theft Auto V. In addition, Bethesda claims the Fallout Pip-Boy app was the "number one game" on the iTunes App Store.

Finally, Bethesda said Fallout 4 set a new record to become the most-viewed game launch for any new game released so far this year.

Fallout 4 launched on November 10 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. For more, check out GameSpot's review and what other critics are saying. In addition, Bethesda has teased the game's upcoming DLC and players have discovered an infinite money exploit.

Further Reading

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 274 comments about this story
274 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for razecah12
razecah12

201

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

tw3 will be the goty here in gamespot

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mattklanks
mattklanks

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This website is full of so many useless console playing idiots who are upset that the best game of the year is much better on PC than console.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for razecah12
razecah12

201

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@mattklanks: yeah u right the witcher 3 is better on Pc than console hahaha ur so retard , ur product of abortion

Upvote • 
Avatar image for creepywelps
Creepywelps

2964

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@mattklanks: You're an idiot.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jecomans
jecomans

817

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

Seven years and this is the best Bethesda could come up with... Decent game, but as an RPG, and as a shooter (which is seems to prefer being) it is sorely lacking.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mattklanks
mattklanks

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@jecomans: That's weird, most people seem to think your opinion is stupid.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jecomans
jecomans

817

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

@mattklanks: Do they? You're the only one who has replied to my comment. Most people seem mature enough to see a negative opinion and deal with it. Something you are sadly unable to do.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mattklanks
mattklanks

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@jecomans: I mean in general, it's impressive you were able to count the replies to your comment though, that's more than I expected of you.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for irocket80
irocket80

40

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 5

skyrim made fallout 4 become massive on sales.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@irocket80: Bethesda has been actively outselling each game before it for about two decades now. This isn't surprising. Especially given what a huge improvement Fallout 4 is over its past games in a ton of ways. Also, Fallout is an established franchise in the games industry. Even well before Bethesda got a hold of it. You're being pretty ridiculous in suggesting that Fallout doesn't have fame without the Elder Scrolls.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TwinStripeUK
TwinStripeUK

611

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@irocket80: Huh???

Upvote • 
Avatar image for plaintomato
plaintomato

411

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

I like the game, Bethesda just has a solid formula here. But it's really disappointing that they just rake in the money so lazily and don't actually invest in improving their content.

Morrowind was a huge leap forward. Oblivion was a good step forward too. Since then we've had Skyrim and three Fallouts that are all just more of the same. Franchises like GTA and Metal Gear are leaping forward while Bethesda just sits on it's ass and writes new quest dialogue.

Fallout 4 is really great. But it is a piece of crap compared to what it should have been.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@plaintomato: Fallout 4 is a huge improvement over Fallout 3 in MANY ways. Especially the combat, world design, customization options, animations, enemy AI (a tremendously huge improvement here), settlement building, object variety, etc. Have you even played the game?

By the way, Morrowind was better than Oblivion in many ways. The combat was better in Oblivion, but world design in Oblivion favored quantity of content over quality. A lot of generic locations, MUCH less detailed and interesting world design, the story was generic by comparison, the world didn't have an alive feeling like Morrowind, etc. Morrowind is by far my favorite Elder Scrolls game, and Oblivion (though I still quite enoyed it) is definitely not better than Skyrim imo. Skyrim has its own problems though. That being said, Fallout 4 is absolutely amazing and improves on the series in a ton of ways. You either haven't played the game or you're falling for the same "next gen gameplay" nonsense that other people love to spout but have no clue what they actually want or expect.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for abcdefgabcdefgz
abcdefgabcdefgz

698

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

Edited By abcdefgabcdefgz

Cue the arguments over whether witcher 3 or fallout 4 will win game of the year. Seems to be about half this entire thread is just arguments over which game is better

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dysonlu
dysonlu

226

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Fallout 4 shipped 12m copies; 1.2 copies on PC first 24 hours. Imagine the number of copies on consoles. Even if only half of copies shipped are sold to consumers (rather conservative hypothesis), that's huge compared to PC-only Legacy of the Void's 1m in 24 hours (Wings of Liberty sold 4.6m copies total). Diablo 3 sold 7.8m copies total, with help of consoles versions.

And they say console is dead, why develop for consoles, PC is so much better.

Fact of the matter is sales on consoles are generally much much higher than on PC. Blizzard thriving on PC-only games is but an outlier. Pretty much every other developers have to also develop for consoles, if not exclusively, if they hope to thrive.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@dysonlu: Diablo 3 sold 30 million copies total. It sold 10 million within the first week. Where the hell are you getting your numbers? They're WAY off. Starcraft 2 wasn't huge, but RTS hasn't been huge in years. That's not surprising. It's by far the most successful RTS in a long time. Diablo 3 though? It's a juggernaut. 10th best selling game of all time.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for beantownsean
BeantownSean

1691

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By BeantownSean

@dysonlu:

I don't think that 1.2million for PC is part of the 12million boxed retail sales. When games are activated on Steam, they are listed in the following categories...Steam Store, Retail, Gift and Complimentary. Everything I have read states 1.2million sold on Steam.

So much of PC gaming is digital that its hard to know how many total copies of game (Steam & Retail) were sold.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for charlieholmes
charlieholmes

290

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Sure be nice if other companies would take note of this and just maybe up their game. We need more games of this quality instead of all the MP only and shared world crap! But no, no they're arn't bright enough to see why Bethesda is so successful.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jecomans
jecomans

817

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

@charlieholmes: More buggy, shallow, 'streamlined' games with below par mechanics? No thanks.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for silversix_
silversix_

26347

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Game is a amazing on pc.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Vylsith

@silversix_: Game is amazing on every platform. Its just an amazing game. Celebrate a victory for gamers. Don't make it into a childish platform war. The game definitely looks better and performs a bit better on PC (though it runs fine on the PS4 as well). It also has considerably more bugs on PC. What you prefer is up to you.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for razecah12
razecah12

201

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

fallout 4 will be sell more but objectively speaking games the witcher 3 is the better game

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mattklanks
mattklanks

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@razecah12: Objectively, states an opinion. Lol, continue making yourself look like an idiot I guess.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@razecah12: I couldn't disagree more. Fallout 4 is better than The Witcher 3 in just about every way imaginable imo. I liked the Witcher 3 a lot and played through it all (going to every location even). That being said, the content in the Witcher 3 started getting stale about halfway through. Especially all the damn treasure chests in the water in Skellige and the fact that everything you find after about level 12 is pointless because you can craft better than everything you'll ever find. The fact that it tells you where to find all the recipes also makes exploration about pointless other than to see everything (and the content isn't varied enough to make that very enjoyable anyway). No, Fallout 4 has FAR more content and exploring is much more interesting than in the Witcher 3. It's fine if you like that formula more, but I much prefer the wide open and constantly wondering what you'll find next feeling you get from Fallout. Finding a bobblehead, magazine, or unique weapon/armor keeps you exploring in Fallout. The Witcher 3 is all about finding a treasure chest that you'll just sell everything inside anyway. Meh. I like both games, but Fallout 4 is better in my opinion in every possible way.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for razecah12
razecah12

201

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@Vylsith: every way? including main stoy and side quest? , graphics, ost, world map, gameplay? lol i cant believe how stupid and blind bethesda fangirls are .. ok if ur happy looting junks good for u

Upvote • 
Avatar image for creepywelps
Creepywelps

2964

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Vylsith: I have the opposite (TW3 > FO4) opinion but I think you made a great post.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@creepywelps: No worries. Both are good games and very different from each other despite being open world RPGs. The Witcher 3 is more structured and follows more of a GTA/Assassin's Creed style of open world play, where Fallout 4 is very unstructured and more about discovery and exploration instead of moving between points of interest. Both are good in their own way and will attract their own fanbase without a doubt, but I definitely enjoy the freedom and technical marvel of Bethesda games. I would've found The Witcher 3 a lot less repetitious if there was a point to doing the repetition other than experience. There really wasn't. I think that bothered me more than anything. Regardless, I can respect your opinion and there's no wrong way to game. ^^

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ArabAl
ArabAl

1059

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@razecah12: I don't think you know what 'objectively' means

Upvote • 
Avatar image for PS2fweak
PS2fweak

1184

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By PS2fweak

@ArabAl: No, razecah12 is speaking the truth. You can love Fallout 4 more than anything else, but The Witcher 3 is a better game. Your opinion allows you to pick whatever you want, but games are comprised of too many measurable elements to just use what we like/love as a guide to what is actually better.

I know, I'm full of shit. The Witcher 3 is better though. Arguing that point means you're against video game progress.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mattklanks
mattklanks

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@PS2fweak: Witcher 3 has terrible controls just like the first two, how exactly are they progressing their engine?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Vylsith

@PS2fweak: Fallout 4 progressed video games far more than The Witcher 3 in my opinion. The Witcher 3 was great when it came to dialogue, the story, and quests. The rest of the game did not hold to that standard though. Combat became mind numbingly easy even on death march difficulty. Fallout 4 isn't exactly the pinnacle of difficult either, but survival can be a challenge at times. Nothing in The Witcher 3 was ever challenging past about level 9 or 10 and the content got repetitive as hell when you weren't doing a quest. The game would've been better if the world was about half as large as it is imo. Just fit all the quests in a smaller place with less fluff. Because in The Witcher 3, the fluff didn't really need to be there.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jecomans
jecomans

817

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

@Vylsith: Fallout 4 does nothing to progress videogames. The only thing it is the pinnacle of is lazy, unpolished design.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Vylsith

@jecomans: In terms of world design alone is the by far the most complex video game to ever be created. The settlement system was masterfully done and redefines how building should be done in a RPG. The character customization is amazing. The sheer amount of content is incredible, especially with how much more polished it is than past Bethesda games. You're hyperbolic generic comment does little to address your concerns with the game. It does tell me that you've probably never played the game though. It also tells me that you completely lack the ability to understand why so many people love Bethesda's games.

You don't have to hate everything that's popular that you don't like. It's popular for a good reason. Bethesda isn't an overnight success. They worked damn hard for the success and popularity they have today and they deserve every bit of it. If you don't like the games don't play them. But stop with your "lazy, unpolished" nonsense. There games are more complex than anything else on the market. Fallout 4 works damn well for the extremely high goals they set and accomplished. Your ignorance is showing, and I CBF to give it anymore attention. Hate away though buddy. Don't let logic get in your way.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mattklanks
mattklanks

62

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@jecomans: Hating on a game that you obviously haven't even played makes you look so childish and petty, why would anyone care about such a worthless opinion?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jecomans
jecomans

817

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

@mattklanks: I've finished it. The childish, petty one is you trying to make excuses for someone having a negative opinion of something you like.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@jecomans: You may have played through the story, but your sure as hell haven't finished the game. It has more hours of content than you've had time to play it since release. You ain't got to lie to kick it kiddo. You obviously haven't played it. And you can't provide anything other than vague generalities to back your argument. Stop pretending otherwise. It's childish.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ArabAl
ArabAl

1059

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Edited By ArabAl

@PS2fweak: You can try to justify it in as you many different ways as you want, but it is still an opinion. We might all agree with him, but it doesn't cease to be subjective because of that.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for tajirinere
tajirinere

395

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Edited By tajirinere

The Witcher 3 was walking down the street feeling good about his efforts.

Gamers: Hey Witcher, you suck! Go shag a glitchy horse!!! Where do hail from Novibland?!!

Witcher : guys I just tried to entertain you... Why can't we get along?

Gamers: STFU you are not Fallout

Tomb Raider tries not to say anything

Upvote • 
Avatar image for omotih
omotih

1556

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@tajirinere: poor witcher, I totally ignored it this year ... seems like Bethesta/Zenimax has a great run atm, they are almost like Blizzard just not so cartoony and their in game engines are superior ...

get u some of that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN_Wq946BCk thx

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Kelreynn
Kelreynn

119

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Well done Bethesda...

People complain about the graphics but I feel like they're better than most games out there! The environmental things like rain fog and smoke are badass. Go into an area on fire and it's harder to see w the smoke. Really cool. And the music! Beautiful...

All in all a solid and really fun game. I stopped playing Halo 5 even... For now. The only crappy thing worthy of note are the bugs/glitches. Thankfully they're few and far between.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Kelreynn: Yeah Bethesda really stepped up when it comes to bugs. Fallout 4 is far less full of bugs than their past games. It's nice. Combat and enemy AI is infinitely better as well. I really enjoy combat outside of VATS in Fallout 4. In Fallout 3 it was painful lol.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for kjouda
KJouda

314

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By KJouda

I envy the PC players for having mods power for this game. OMG the blast they will have. These numbers are nothing now. Wait till mods come :D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Leeric420
Leeric420

359

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By Leeric420

@kjouda: They will have some mods on Xbox and PS4 too.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for finshur
finshur

77

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

@Leeric420

Good luck with that expect for DLC lol:

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Vylsith
Vylsith

555

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By Vylsith

@finshur: Console gamers will get most of the content DLC. But yes, the graphic DLC obviously won't work well on consoles. Though texture packs would probably be fine on the PS4. They'd probably work better on the PC honestly due to all RAM being GDDR5. Though the limit of 5 - 5.5 GBs currently for gaming would be an issue. But I'm sure the PS4 can push out higher textures than what it has currently for Fallout 4. We'll see what happens, but I think you're lack of optimism is probably more based on bias than logic.

Upvote •