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Blades of Fire underperformed, leading to €10m loss for publisher

Digital Bros blames market conditions for the game's disappointing sales performance.

July 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM

Metroid Dread studio's recent console and Epic-exclusive action-adventure "underperformed" due to "increasingly selective consumers", says publisher

Blades of Fire from MercurySteam has underperformed since its launch, affecting Digital Bros financially.

Blades of Fire fails to meet expectations amid competitive gaming landscape

Blades of Fire, a new action-adventure title from MercurySteam, has not met sales expectations since its launch in May. The game, released for consoles and exclusively on the Epic Games Store for PC, has contributed to estimated losses of €10 million for its publisher, Digital Bros. The company cites an oversaturated market and selective consumers as major factors for the game's struggle. Despite receiving positive reviews, the title has not drawn in enough players. Digital Bros has lowered its revenue projections for the fiscal year ending June 2025, indicating that the game's underperformance and persistent market uncertainty will lead to significant financial losses. The company's insights reflect a broader trend within the gaming industry, where even well-known franchises face challenges in attracting consumer interest amid an abundance of new releases.

Key Takeaways

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Blades of Fire has significantly underperformed since its May release.

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Digital Bros anticipates a €10 million loss due to the game’s failure.

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The market is flooded with new titles, leading to selective consumer behavior.

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Positive critical reception did not translate into strong sales for Blades of Fire.

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Industry veterans like Ubisoft are also struggling with new launches amid changing consumer trends.

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Established franchises are not guaranteed success in this competitive market.

"The video game market remains affected by challenging competitive dynamics."

Digital Bros outlines the current challenges in the gaming industry regarding new title launches.

"Our revenue projections have contracted further due to underperformance."

Digital Bros acknowledges financial setbacks due to Blades of Fire's lack of success.

"Consumer selectivity complicates the launch of new titles."

The company attributes the difficulties of attracting players to a shift in consumer behavior.

"These conditions make it particularly difficult to successfully launch new titles."

Digital Bros explains the tough environment for new entrants in the gaming market.

The troubles faced by Blades of Fire highlight a growing difficulty in the gaming market. With fierce competition and numerous new titles released regularly, players are becoming increasingly selective. Digital Bros’ predicament is not unique; other publishers have reported similar challenges. The market seems to favor established franchises, but even they struggle in this climate. As developers assess their strategies, the focus may increasingly shift to Long-term player engagement rather than immediate sales. The lessons from Blades of Fire could resonate across the industry, prompting a reevaluation of marketing and strategic launch efforts.