By Sagar V. Mankar Capcom’s latest action-strategy game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, hasn’t performed as well as the company hoped, despite winning hearts with its unique style and gameplay. According to a recent report from GameBiz.jp, the game’s sales numbers fell short of company expectations, largely due to marketing challenges.
A Beautiful Game That Flew Under the Radar
Released in July 2024, Kunitsu-Gami brought the team behind famous titles like Resident Evil and Devil May Cry. Drawing deep inspiration from Japanese folklore, the game offers players a fresh take on combat mechanics by incorporating elements of traditional ceremonial dance, while populating its world with fascinating yokai – supernatural creatures from Japanese legends.
The game launched on multiple platforms – PC, PlayStation, and Xbox – and was even available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. While this helped more players try the game, it wasn’t enough to boost sales to the desired levels. Despite the commercial challenges, players and critics have showered the game with praise, giving it an impressive 82 out of 100 on OpenCritic.
Why Didn’t It Sell Well?
According to Capcom’s shareholder Q&A (via Automaton), the main reason for the lower sales was simple: not enough people knew about the game before it came out. The company admits they didn’t do enough marketing to create excitement before the launch.
While some industry observers wonder if releasing the game on Xbox Game Pass might have affected sales, Capcom hasn’t commented on this specifically.
Better News for Other Capcom Games
While Kunitsu-Gami may have struggled, Capcom has had plenty of success with other games this year. Dragon’s Dogma 2, which came out in March, was a huge hit, selling three million copies in just two months.
The company reports that other titles like Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, and Ace Attorney Investigations Collection are all meeting their sales goals.
Looking Ahead
Capcom isn’t giving up on Kunitsu-Gami. The company plans to continue promoting the game, hoping to eventually reach their sales targets. The game has been nominated for Best Sim/Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2024, which could serve as a significant global promotion. Its Capcom counterparts, Dragon’s Dogma, received a nomination for Best RPG, while Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics was nominated for Best Fighting Game, and Monster Hunter Wilds for Most Anticipated Game.
Speaking of Monster Hunter Wilds, it is set to release on February 28, 2025, and has already shown promise, with its October open beta drawing over 460,000 concurrent players on Steam.