Back when it was announced, A Way Out sounded like a cool and novel concept – a co-operative, story-driven game where you and a mate get to team up as a pair of convicts to escape from prison and hide from police. Apparently, a whole lot of people were won over by that idea, as the game, released in late March, sold more copies in its first two weeks than its distributor EA predicted it would sell in its entire lifetime.
In a document that leaked last year, EA projected that A Way Out would sell 203,000 copies by the end of the 2018 fiscal year, and 894,000 across its entire lifetime. That number has already been exceeded, however, with Swedish indie developer Hazelight Studios tweeting that the game has already sold a million copies, far greater than any initial expectation. “Words cannot describe how much this means to us,” they said, thanking fans for their support.
We just found out that #AWayOut has sold over 1 million copies, in just over two weeks! Words cannot describe how much this means to us. Thank you to all of you for your support!
— Hazelight Studios (@HazelightGames) April 13, 2018
Writer and director Josef Fares said of the game:
“This is a cinematic experience. We need to keep it fresh and unique all the time. You’re investing in these characters, in their personalities. It’s not just a drop-in drop-out game. The characters react differently depending on who they talk to.”
We often hear rumblings that expansive, narrative-driven adventures are an endangered species, but the success of games like The Last Of Us, Horizon Zero Dawn and now A Way Out suggests that there are still plenty of players looking for a more immersive experience.
In case you missed it, here’s the game’s official trailer: