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The 5 Biggest Video Game Flops of 2016

Image source: Cisco.

Physical sales of Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare’s sales were down roughly 50% compared to the previous year’s franchise installment.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Image source: Activision Blizzard.

As one of Activision’s biggest franchises, the extent to which the latest Call of Duty underperformed is troubling. The game’s soft sales have been a major contributor to the company’s recent stock declines.

Ubisoft scored a hit with the first Watch Dogs in 2014, but its sequel failed to build franchise momentum. In the U.K., the game’s launch weeks sales came up roughly 80% short of its predecessor.

Watch Dogs 2

Image source: Ubisoft.

With sales for the Assassin’s Creed franchise also in decline, the weakening of Watch Dogs and questionable outlook for the franchise is a big blow to Ubisoft. Even so, the company’s stock still gained roughly 24% in 2016.

Image source: Ubisoft.

Electronic Arts was targeting sales of between 9 million and 10 million units for Titanfall 2, but the game struggled to stand out in a crowded release window. It will likely fall far short of its predecessor’s 7 million sales.

Titanfall 2

Image source: Electronic Arts.

Titanfall isn’t one of EA’s most important franchises, but the recent release was a significant disappointment and puts the series’ future in question. However, even with the franchise fading, EA shares gained roughly 19% last year.

Image source: Electronic Arts.

Sony and Capcom teamed up to make Street Fighter V exclusive to PlayStation 4 and PC platforms, but sales for the game have been very disappointing at less than 2 million copies.

Image source: Capcom.

Street Fighter V

Street Fighter V flopping won’t have much impact on Sony or its PlayStation 4 console, but the game’s soggy sales are significant for Capcom -- especially because other key properties have recently underperformed for the company.

Image source: Capcom.

Street Fighter V

Take-Two’s Battleborn was overshadowed by Activision’s similar genre entry Overwatch, and put up dismal sales. Within months of the game’s release, rumors circulated that the title would be transitioned to a free-to-play model. The move hasn’t come yet, but it could still be in the cards.

Image source: Take-Two.

Battleborn

The significance of Battleborn’s performance was lessened by strong sales for the company’s Grand Theft Auto and NBA2K series. Even with a disappointing run for Battleborn, Take-Two shares gained roughly 44% in 2016.

Battleborn

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