Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ships 7 million

ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks announced today that they have shipped 7 million copies of Skyrim to retail, and sold more than 50% of their launch stock in the first 48 hours.

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ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks announced today that they've shipped 7 million copies of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim to retail across various territories. These launch units, which include pricey $150 special editions, alone are estimated to generate $450 million in global retail sales.

Bethesda also estimates that 50% of the launch units were sold in the first 48 hours, and the game has already received reorders from some retailers. The announcement also touts online sales, with Steam showing 280,000 concurrent players in the first 24 hours.

Shipped numbers aren't to be confused with sell-through rates, of course, but if that 50% sales rate is accurate, we can expect the game to make a dent in the NPD charts. Given the game's buzz and positive reception, that wouldn't be too surprising.

"We are grateful for the fans' response to Skyrim," said ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman in the announcement. "Todd Howard and his team at Bethesda Game Studios have crafted a very special game. Anticipation for Skyrim has surpassed any game in our company's history, and we are pleased that sales and reviews have reflected the quality and hours of amazing gameplay it provides."

Bethesda is currently working on patches for all platforms. Check out our review and new Skyrim Stories feature.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 16, 2011 11:15 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ships 7 million.

    ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks announced today that they have shipped 7 million copies of Skyrim to retail, and sold more than 50% of their launch stock in the first 48 hours.

    • reply
      November 16, 2011 11:20 AM

      :D

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      November 16, 2011 11:24 AM

      It's our duty as gamers to make sure every person we know owns a copy of this game.

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        November 16, 2011 11:35 AM

        I'm having such a hard time playing SR3 when I know there's so much to do and explore in Skyrim. It's even worse because both Batman and AC are waiting, I haven't even purchased either of those yet.

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          November 16, 2011 11:36 AM

          I couldn't even imagine playing SR3 compared to Skyrim! Save it for next month or something!

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            November 16, 2011 11:39 AM

            I'm switching over to SR3 for a little while. I need some silliness in my life.

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        November 16, 2011 2:27 PM

        I don't have any money for it right now.

        Wish I did, guess I'll have to go down the arrrgh route though. Still, nice sales numbers.

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          November 16, 2011 2:29 PM

          i'm really tempted to setup a SkyrimForward site ala http://www.waterforward.org/ someone buys you a copy if you pledge to buy someone else a copy so that everyone in the world can enjoy skyrim!

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            November 16, 2011 10:10 PM

            Hmm, that's interesting, but if you could buy a copy, wouldn't you just uh, buy a copy?

            Instead of someone buying you a copy, then buying someone else a copy.

            I'm Mkilbride on Steam if anyone wants to stop me from pirating it.

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        November 16, 2011 3:14 PM

        I'm getting it eventually. Holding out for patches, mods, and likely a GOTY edition.

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        November 16, 2011 3:25 PM

        I'm going to be the dickhead and wait for the GOTY edition that comes out next fall with all of the DLC packed in for the same price (or hope for another Oops on Steam ala FO3's GOTY for $18).

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        November 16, 2011 3:50 PM

        I must be the only one in the world who is not interested in this game? I just don't like RPG games.

    • reply
      November 16, 2011 11:37 AM

      alright fuck i'll buy it! leave me alone about it shacknews!!

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      November 16, 2011 11:40 AM

      normally I am a whore for the hot new thing, and so far I have yet to pick up AssRev which I am super pumped about (loved AC2 and Brotherhood.) That says a lot to how awesome Skyrim is.

      • gmd legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
        reply
        November 16, 2011 11:41 AM

        terrible timing by Assrev, it will have to wait!

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        November 16, 2011 11:46 AM

        I liked AC2 and Brotherhood, but I just don't have any desire to get Revelations at the moment. Brotherhood was good, but it was pretty much the same game as AC2. Revelations looks to be more of the same. I guess that's not a bad thing, but I kinda want something new or fresh. I feel like Ubisoft is just churning them out Call of Duty style, but not shaking it up in the slightest. All the settings feel the same. I don't know.....

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          November 16, 2011 11:54 AM

          While I agree, it still rocks and I get so hooked into it. :(

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          November 16, 2011 5:50 PM

          [deleted]

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            November 16, 2011 6:25 PM

            Well, that's what pretty much everyone thought about Brotherhood prior to its release, but it was a full blown game. Picks up right where AC2 left off and ends on a cliffhanger. I wouldn't skip it.

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        November 16, 2011 11:58 AM

        [deleted]

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        November 16, 2011 12:00 PM

        I am hooked on Skyrim. It's been a long time since a game so wholly made me want to ignore every other game out there. This is especially telling given that so many awesome games are coming out right now.

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      November 16, 2011 11:45 AM

      [deleted]

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      November 16, 2011 11:47 AM

      Good for them! Sounds like a lot, but how does it compare to Halo, MW, Gears, etc?

    • reply
      November 16, 2011 11:57 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      November 16, 2011 2:51 PM

      this is really awesome news.

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      November 16, 2011 3:15 PM

      Goddamn!

      I hate it when other people make me buy games.

    • reply
      November 16, 2011 3:32 PM

      Even I bought it despite its console development focus, that should tell you guys something. I'm really liking it so far :)

    • reply
      November 16, 2011 3:46 PM

      I'm finally breaking down, can't resist anymore. which version is better, ps3 or 360?

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        November 16, 2011 3:51 PM

        Honestly, PC if you can.

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          November 16, 2011 3:59 PM

          my computer sucks. so itll have to be console version for me.

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          November 16, 2011 5:37 PM

          srsly going to kick yourself later

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          November 16, 2011 6:29 PM

          This, but I had to go with PS3. I coudln't find a PC copy anywhere in the city so I broke down last night and bought the PS3 one. Still looks great, and plays great. I'll get the PC version sometime later, maybe after my next upgrade.

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            November 16, 2011 8:02 PM

            Couldn't find it? Isn't it a steamworks game?

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              November 16, 2011 8:16 PM

              No credit card anymore. Living in Taiwan it was getting overly silly having to pay all sorts of crazy wire transfer fees to pay off my US card, in addition to the bullshit currency conversion rates and whatnot. I just got tired of getting raped on it.

              If I were a local getting a card through my bank here would be easy, but here they are fairly backwards. If I'm not a local I can't get one at all, even when I would normally get one easy as hell.

      • reply
        November 16, 2011 3:57 PM

        If you must get it on a console, I would get the ps3 version since it doesn't have the texture bug.

        • reply
          November 16, 2011 4:01 PM

          [deleted]

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            November 16, 2011 4:20 PM

            The load times are long, in a game where you are entering and exiting a lot of places.

            • reply
              November 16, 2011 5:27 PM

              [deleted]

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                November 16, 2011 5:41 PM

                What exactly are you trying to get at? This isn't a console war discussion. If he has both, and is making a choice he should know about the 360 issues and the patch isn't coming out immediately so that doesn't mater when you need to decide now. I don't care what he, you or anyone decide to play it on.

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        November 16, 2011 3:58 PM

        There is no difference; go with the one you'd rather get achievements for, or which controller you like better

    • reply
      November 16, 2011 7:50 PM

      "We are grateful for the fans' response to Skyrim," said ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman in the announcement. "Todd Howard and his team at Bethesda Game Studios have crafted a very special game. Anticipation for Skyrim has surpassed any game in our company's history......
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      And don't even think about stepping in messing up the next game.

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