Indie game studio Landfall took a step on Apr. 1 by offering their latest release, Content Warning, for free for the first 24 hours. The game, reminiscent of Lethal Company-style horror, challenges players to record scary videos and achieve viral fame on SpöökTube. What followed was beyond their wildest expectations, as over six million copies were claimed during the free period, surprising both players and the development team alike.
(Photo : Skog, Zorro, Wilnyl, Philip, thePetHen / Screenshot taken from Steam.)
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Surprising Sales Post-Free Period
Following the initial free period, Landfall transitioned Content Warning to a paid model, pricing it at $8. Despite initial concerns about whether players would continue to show interest after the shift to paid, the game's sales figures quickly alleviate any anxieties.
Within its first few hours of being offered for sale, Content Warning sold over 100,000 copies, marking a significant milestone for the studio. Subsequent days saw even greater success, with sales reaching 125,000 copies in a single day and surpassing 700,000 within a week.
Factors Contributing to Success
Landfall CEO Wilhelm Nylund attributes Content Warning's breakout success to several factors, including the initial free offering. The sudden influx of gameplay footage and buzz generated on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch contributed to creating a perception of excitement and relevance surrounding the game. This propelled it to the top of Steam's sales charts, even surpassing popular titles like Call of Duty, Destiny, and Apex Legends.
Looking ahead, Landfall remains optimistic about Content Warning's continued success and aims to reach the milestone of one million copies sold within the first two weeks since its release. Additionally, the studio plans to support the game with future updates while continuing work on their main project, Haste: Broken Worlds, a speedrunning game featuring procedurally-generated levels.
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