Activision Blizzard’s ‘Diablo IV’ Was June’s Best-Selling Video Game—And Is Already The Third Best-Seller Of The Year

Topline

Diablo IV was the best-selling video game in the U.S. in June, according to data from industry-tracking firm Circana—which also revealed the action role-playing game is already the third best-selling video game so far this year, beating out several other hyped titles.

Key Facts

Diablo IV was June’s best-selling video game and secured the top spot over other recent releases such as Final Fantasy XVI and Street Fighter 6.

Despite its June 6 release date, Diablo IV ranks No. 3 on Circana’s best-selling video games of the year list, beating out titles that have been out for several months, such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022), Star Wars: Jedi Survivor and FIFA 23.

The video games ahead of Diablo IV’s No. 3 spot included Hogwarts Legacy (No. 1) and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (No. 2), though the numbers behind the Nintendo-exclusive Zelda game do not include digital sales.

Blizzard, the developer of Diablo IV and division of Activision Blizzard, experienced a record-breaking boost in sales last quarter following the June release of the video game—which drove revenue up 160% year-over-year to just over $1 billion.

Big Number

$666 million. The apt global sales benchmark was crossed by Diablo IV within five days of launch, making the video game Blizzard’s fastest-selling title ever. However, the game had the help of a head start thanks to the presumably millions of users who participated in early access play, which came four days before the June 6 release date.

Tangent

Circana’s data found that spending on video game hardware in June increased 22% to $454 million, compared to the same period last year. The firm noted a double-digit percentage growth in spending on Sony’s PlayStation 5 offset spending declines on Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch consoles.

Key Background

Diablo is one of Blizzard’s most popular video game franchises, having its first installment released in 1996. The action role-playing game contains a medieval, occult art style and allows players to team up in fights against various monsters and demons. The latest installment’s success came at a fortunate time for Blizzard parent company Activision Blizzard, which has seen its acquisition at the hands of Microsoft delayed due to regulatory hurdles. A California judge greenlit the deal in the U.S. last month, but it still needs approval from the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority to finally close. Should the acquisition close, Microsoft, the creators of Xbox, will pay $69 billion in what will be one of the biggest corporate shifts in gaming ever.

Further Reading

What ‘Diablo 4’ Needs To Change For Season 2 (Forbes)

The Fastest, Easiest Obol Farm In ‘Diablo 4’ (Forbes)


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