Knack 2 flopped so hard in Japan that no one even noticed. As always, the Japanese sales charts released yesterday spotlighting the Top 20 software releases in the Eastern region. Japan Studio’s sequel didn’t make the grade, and very few were even aware that it had launched during the tracking period (28th September) in the nation.
In fact, so badly did the sequel do that it wasn’t included in Famitsu’s Top 30 either; you have to turn your attention to Dengeki to get a rough estimate for the platformer’s launch sales: 2,106 units. This is less than one per cent of what its predecessor sold, although it’s worth remembering that Knack was bundled with every PlayStation 4 unit at launch in Japan.
Still, these kind of figures are disastrous. Ironically, the game actually fared ever so slightly better in the UK, where it at least debuted in 12th position before disappearing off the face of the Earth. All of this was predictable, of course: despite it being a much better game than its predecessor, was there anyone in the world clamouring for a new Knack?
No.
[source News: Japanese Sales Charts: Trails of Cold Steel III and FIFA 18 Lead the Charge on PS4, via famitsu.com, dengekionline.com]
Comments 51
I loved knack 2 and dont understand its low sales numbers I was hoping for a knack 3
They don't know what they missing we're talking the GoTY
KNACK 2 BAYBEE!
Yes Dunkey memes
@spirit777 It's a good game, it just clearly hasn't resonated with consumers.
I'm sure we'll get a Knack 3
Pity.
Too bad, I like knack 2, it's way better than the first one
Hilarious, go away knack.
The game has a lot of flaws, but I found it to be very enjoyable.
I would love it if Sony just kept on making Knack games. You will love Knack!
Next up: Knack Team Racing
Japan Studio's games really don't sell well. Their output has been very good, but all of their games (-codeveloped Bloodborne) seemed to have bombed this gen (GR2, TLG, Knack 2).
Both games were underrated in my opinion. Neither controlled as well or were as necessarily as creative as Nintendo's Mario games, but they filled that niche on the PS4.
It would help if the main character didn't look like a bundle of garbage that was duct-taped together.
Maybe this is Sony's Urban Champion, and they'll keep bringing it back even though nobody really wants it.
I feel bad for the devs but you have to wonder what the rationale was behind Knack.
Why couldnt this have been that VR platformer with the little robots? That would be a day one release for me!
Every Knackolyte needs to buy 3 copies to compensate.
@Rudy_Manchego Apparently they started work on it in secret before it had even been given the greenlight.
@get2sammyb Oh boy - I mean, I know sometimes we complain about the men in suits hampering creative freedom but then again...
Maybe if he had purple hair and the game was set in high-school with plenty of scantily clad schoolgirls in, it might have sold better there.
@get2sammyb I forsee a Knack Collection bundle in the future. I mean, they have to recoup their losses on this game somehow. At the least, this game may land on PS Plus sooner rather than later. On a related note, I follow Mark Cerny on PSN, and to date, he's the only one of my follows that I've seen that had any Knack 2 related trophy updates. Kinda made me feel bad for the guy. That said, I did play through the Knack 2 demo when it released, but I found it quite boring myself.
@ApostateMage Almost assuredly it would.
I know I was.
It goes to show that when it comes to ips with a bad rep, it's best to leave them alone instead of trying your best to make a great game. Destiny 2 did worse, despite being better than 1, same with Watchdogs, same with Knack.
THERE GOES THE MONEY!
@Fight_Teza_Fight Sad but true.
Such a shame. I hate seeing great games not selling well...
Huh. It's almost like the impressive sales of the first game were, I don't know, artificially boosted or something.
The only antidote is more Knack. The people will listen!
Even with the positive press Knack 2 went from a 'no way in hell' to maybe I'll pick it up on sale down the road...when its $15. First one was just too meh.
Knack 2 is not Mario Odyssey but it deserves a better sale... it's not a bad game..
The Demo for Knack 2 was pretty bad, that might turned some people off. The game engine and graphics are very good. HDR is very nice. Gameplay is very good, especially with co-op moves. But honestly, the story and dialog were pretty bad compared to the first game. The Crystal Wars is a great story concept, but it never made any sense that human barbarians could defeat High Goblins with super advanced technology. Also, Zander was an extremely lame villain and nowhere near as good as Viktor. Where this game really fell down for us was story logic and boring characters.
Maybe sales in America were better? It sounded like they wanted to do a spin-off with just Knack and Lucas looking for clues about the Ancient Relics and Knack's people. Even if it's just DLC, that would be cool.
Unless I missed it, I never understood why Knack, or Gravity Rush for that matter, never hit PS Plus prior to both sequels releasing. Surely would have been a cost-effective marketing strategy to boosting sales.
My theory on why Knack never hit Plus, was that the first game was too big. That and so many people had already bought and played it. My son and I are now addicted to Sky Force Anniversary. It's a beautiful thing when you discover an underappreciated game thanks to Plus. It's like the PBS of gaming.
I feel guilty now.I enjoyed the demo for Knack 2 but never bought it.My purchase could of stopped it being a flop.
Feel sorry for all the guys that put in the hard work..
Sad. Despite the bad press, I thought Knack 2 was a huge improvement over the original. Thought it is pretty understandable, considering that the lackluster sales were either because nobody wanted another Knack (The Order 1886 2, however, seems to be the more requested) and/or the lack of marketing from Sony.
@ApostateMage all you have succeeded in doing is create an image of a scantily clad knack in my head 😂 terrifying
We loved knack and looked forward for knack 2. It is an awesome kids game. Stop the hate.
Good. Let it die.
Count me as one of the people who didn't even know the game had released already.
Never played 1 but 2's demo was horrible. Boring and so repetitive.
Ratchet and N.Sane show how it should be done.
I was happy to get a sequel. It was an enjoyable game. Good games do not always sell well but this still deserved to be made.
Enjoyed playing the first with my kids. Had some flaws but was a decent experience overall. Haven't got the sequel yet going to wait til Black Friday and probably get it for 20 bucks or so. Those sales numbers are pretty abysmal though
That's sad, I'm also really disappointed that Gravity Rush 2 also didn't sell well and the game is really awesome, one of my favorites this year without a doubt.
Shame.
"was there anyone in the world clamouring for a new Knack?
No."
Of course not - everyone has been busy clamouring for the old Knack to be given out on PS Plus, it seems. XD
Demand/supply laws of the market aside, getting made JUST because "everyone wanted it" is inherently humiliating for a game as a piece of fiction anyway. But since developers and most other authors care for the sales figures as a resonance statistic, Knack 2 team is probably bummed out right now, especially after the improvements they worked to add here. And I reckon there will be no Knack 3 anytime soon (if ever) if the sales remain like this.
japan showing good taste again.
I may not own the sequel yet...will be my next game to pick up, there was a lot of time spent on the first one!!!! I still replay the first one! But there was no 'real' advertisement for the sequel, it was basically a 'throw it out there' launch for it, and it released too close to other games that were getting more hype and looks. As much as I'd love to see the series move onwards, there's also been many other great games (at least in my opinion they were great) that deserve more love...Dante's Inferno, the Overlord series, Golden Axe, Aero the Acrobat, Bubsy, Chuck Rock, Toe Jam And Earl, Splatterhouse, some more Castlevania...the list can honestly go on...and as far as the platform adventure state, many seem to die before they have a chance...it's taking Crash this long to get a new one in the series, and it seems like ages for Spyro...then there's also a bunch of series that lasted for a few sequels, that just got forgotten about...Ty The Tasmanian Tiger and some other ones. Other than that, I won't put the Knack games down, because I really did enjoy the first one...reminded me of Ratchet And Clank meets a few other notables...and I'm still going to be buying the sequel...just need to get out of my Everybody's Golf spell right now!!!!
It's a little bit sad since it seems like a decent game...and since Japan sometimes have some weird tastes in games, like EDF games (that look like crap and don't play that good despite being fun)...so, sad! Knack 3 rip
You might say; He doesn't quite have a "Knack" at appealing to Japanese gamers? 😋
Oh well, Mediocre I. P. at best. Move along.
Crash is an awesome mascot!! We need more Crash! CTR should be next!
Also, Spyro... enough said.
Knack never appealed to me. Didn't play the first game and happily skipped the second. Sony has so much greatness in their library that would sell like hotcakes, Knack just isn't one of them.
Sony has to bring out more of Crash and Spyro, perhaps some Croc as well, that'll boost revenue for sure!!
R.I.P. Knack
Wish I had gotten to know you better while you were still around.
May you find fields of white in the realms beyond and sweet nectar to drink in the halls of your PlayStation fathers whom you now join as you too pass into the abyss.
Give our regards to Galahad and Nathan Drake, as well as to Wonderbook and PlayStation Move. Keep your eyes open for Kat, who will be joining you soon. She'll be the one carrying a Vita.
Should have made knack 1 a psn+ game in august to generate interest, also maybe do some advertising perhaps maybe.
A bit worrying. I hope sales analysts don't interpret this as "3D platformers don't sell well" instead of "Knack doesn't sell well".
But I think Sony should either bring back an old platforming IP, or make a new one.
The first Knack was great; probably the most underrated PS4 game out there. Will be playing the second soon. Disappointed to hear about the sales figures.
@spirit777 same here. Knack 2 is fantastic. Probably one of my favorite games this gen. Still somehow fingers crossed for Knack 3!
@slampog i agree im on my 2nd playthrough and love knack 2
Yeah knack....that whole concept was a pretty hard sell wasn’t it? I haven’t played the game so I won’t say anything about the quality but Japan Studio has been involved with so much cool stuff so it can’t be all bad can it, and some of the stuff they have been working on has been pretty “out there”. I think it’s nice that they are allowed to take some chances on weird concepts even if Sony has to accept some bombs (sales wise) here and there.
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