From Gold to Obsolescence: Brian Fargo Reflects on Changing Game Sales Milestones

Brian Fargo, a seasoned CRPG developer known for his work on Fallout and the Wasteland series, recently shared some reflections on the evolving landscape of game sales. His thoughts emerged as he showcased awards received for selling substantial units decades ago, noting how such figures today could mark the "end of your career."

Fargo's journey in the gaming industry spans over four decades, beginning with his self-published text adventure in 1981. Throughout his extensive career, he has witnessed numerous shifts in industry trends. This extensive experience likely prompted his recent musings on the sales figures of his past games.

In a series of images shared online, Fargo exhibited awards for notable milestones: a Gold award for shipping 100,000 copies of 1995's Stonekeeper, an award for shipping 100,000 copies of Battle Chess (a title he contributed to at Interplay Productions in 1988), a Platinum award for the original Baldur's Gate selling 150,000 copies in 1998, and an award for Descent, a first-person shooter that sold 100,000 copies.

The core of Fargo's commentary revolves around how the sales numbers that once garnered acclaim could lead to career-ending situations for developers today. His perspective is arguably from the standpoint of a 'AAA' game developer. For major developers like those behind Assassin's Creed Shadows, selling only 100,000 copies would indeed be a significant setback.

However, the context is crucial. For smaller developers or solo creators, such sales numbers could be a massive success. Take the example of the solo developer behind Balatro, who initially aimed to sell "maybe 10 copies" of their poker roguelike. Ultimately, Balatro sold one million copies, far surpassing expectations. Thus, while Fargo's observations hold weight, they need to be understood relative to the scale and expectations of different types of game developers.

The drastic difference in success metrics is evident when comparing the initial Baldur's Gate's Platinum award for 150,000 sales to the staggering 15 million copies sold by Baldur's Gate 3.