Sea of Stars Soars Past Developer Expectations
Sabotage Studio, the creative minds behind the critically acclaimed RPG Sea of Stars, recently shared some exciting news regarding the game's immense success. According to Thierry Boulanger, co-founder of Sabotage Studio, Sea of Stars has far exceeded their most optimistic projections, proving to be a runaway hit.
This revelation came to light in a recent interview with Game Informer, where Boulanger discussed the game's performance following the May release of its free expansion, Throes of the Watchmaker. The decision to make this DLC free was a direct acknowledgment of the community's unwavering support, from the game's crowdfunding campaign through its launch and beyond.
“As a reward, we told our Kickstarter backers: ‘Oh, and you’ll all get the DLC for free when we make it,’” Boulanger explained. “And then it just so happened that the game became about seven times more successful than we expected in the best, most rosy scenario. Essentially, we were given the funds. So this DLC is a thank you to everyone who helped us. We essentially just could afford to make it. We don't need to sell it to stay afloat. The game sells well enough.”
A Monumental Player Milestone
The scale of Sea of Stars' success is truly impressive. Boulanger revealed that the game has garnered well over 6 million players since its release. While he clarified that this figure represents a combined total of players and copies sold, it undeniably marks a significant achievement for the indie studio. This number far outstrips the performance of Sabotage Studio's previous title, the 2D platformer The Messenger.
Boulanger also touched upon the unique challenges and expectations for retro-inspired games. He noted that there's often a perceived 'ceiling' for such titles, meaning they aren't typically expected to reach the sales figures of major AAA blockbusters. Sea of Stars, however, has defied this notion, demonstrating that quality and charm can resonate with a massive audience regardless of genre conventions.
Strong Performance on PlayStation Plus
Adding to its success, Sea of Stars also performed exceptionally well on PlayStation Plus, where it was available at launch. Boulanger drew a comparison between Sony's subscription service and Microsoft's Game Pass, suggesting that PlayStation Plus's comparatively smaller curated library might have helped Sea of Stars gain more visibility and attention from subscribers.
For players, this overwhelming success for Sea of Stars is great news. Not only does it highlight the vibrant market for well-crafted, original RPG experiences, but it also solidifies Sabotage Studio's financial stability, potentially paving the way for more ambitious projects and continued support for their beloved titles in the future.
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