Halo: Reach to be 2010's biggest seller?

By Ellie Gibson Published 8 January, 2010

Industry types say so in new GI.biz survey.

The games industry's most luminescent luminaries are predicting Halo: Reach will be the biggest selling title of 2010.

They were voting in the annual GamesIndustry.biz Network Survey, which is open to all 9900 industry professionals in the network. Final Fantasy XIII is tipped to be the second-best selling game, followed by StarCraft II and new instalments in the Call of Duty and FIFA series.

GamesIndustry.biz also asked survey participants to name a 'dark horse' for 2010. Alan Wake came in at number one with Heavy Rain in second place. Other suggestions included Darksiders, Split Second, Brink and APB.

The majority of industry professionals are predicting a decline in the popularity of the music, first-person shooter and real-time strategy genres next year. However, they reckon things are looking up for casual and social gaming, action adventure titles and MMOs.

You can read the results of the survey, with full top tens and percentages and everything, over at GamesIndustry.biz.

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About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (67) Latest comment 2 years ago

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  • onyxbox #1 2 years ago

    Any Halo game will sell truck/boat/plane loads... do I give a shit...

    nope... let's just hope it does something new.

  • Petulant_Radish #2 2 years ago

    in the 2009? Stick to the boast accessories mate!

  • Verminox #3 2 years ago

    I reckon Gran Turismo 5 will be top.

  • ignatiusjreilly #4 2 years ago

    Predicting a decline in the FPS and RTS genres, then predicting the three top-selling games of the year to be two FPS and and an RTS :)

    I don't really see FPS as declining, but they won't be rising as fast as casual and social gaming for sure.

  • TruWari3r #5 2 years ago

    You know, not a halo fanboy but I'll preorder this game as soon as the normal limited edition becomes available. Not going to preorder that probable big helmet or whatever thing nor get the normal one, I love steelcases.

  • GamerG #6 2 years ago

    Gran Turismo will not be top, racing games are in a decline and it's on PS3 which is the least popular major system out there.

  • ps3owner #7 2 years ago

    what is it about?

    sorry... I am obviously living under a rock...

  • INSOMANiAC #8 2 years ago

    I might be alone in this, but I think Halo is on the decline, I LOVED Halo 1, 2 was average, 3 was poor and by the time we got to Halo ODST I just couldnt be bothered buying it. Its gone from Genre defining excellence to generic tat in the space of three games, quite an achievement.

  • Quixz #9 2 years ago

    @Verminox Don't be silly! I wouldn't bet against Halo or an infinity ward COD title.

  • miiiguel #10 2 years ago

    Halo ODST I just couldnt be bothered buying it.

    So... you really hated ODST. No, really, glad you said that, it kinda shows that you created that idea all by yourself, you didn't need the game to reach that conclusion, it's all you.

  • altitude2k #11 2 years ago

    I'm a massive Halo geek, so shoot me. It's the game I'm most looking forward to this year, but I reckon GT5 will sell more. Why? Because every man, woman and child in Japan will buy about 3 copies each, whereas about 3 people in Japan will buy Reach.

    Not to mention the fact that GT5 will have about a 6 month head start for sales in 2010.

  • 52pickup #12 2 years ago

    There is so many great games out this year, at this point you would shoot yourself in the foot, predicting what game will sell the best, because really, nobody knows.

    Edit: Final Fantasy XIII if i had to predict a game myself.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 09:55

  • AphoticCosmos #13 2 years ago

    Even as an uber-Halo-fan, I don't see Reach being the best seller of 2010.

    Mass Effect 2? Bioshock 2? GT5? All big names - it's going to take a lot to beat that.

  • ziggy_played_guitar #14 2 years ago

    Don't underestimate the power of USA + Halo, it's a love affair.

  • JonFE #15 2 years ago

    As we know at the moment, Halo: Reach will be released next Autumn (or Fall, if you are on the other side of the pond), so while I'm quite positive it will enjoy stellar sales (all Halo FPS games have so far) in the remaining months of 2010, I'm not sure it will sell better than games with healthy sales throughout the year...

    EDIT: How come this article is under the MMO category? Does EG know something on Halo: Reach we mere mortals do not?
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 10:05

  • orpheus #16 2 years ago

    I can see the music-game market slowing, as it's been over-saturated something rotten. Don't see FPS seeing a decline overall though, at least not in 2010. As for social gaming, that's the way the market has been headed for years (as part of the general increase in online communication & media) so no surprises there.

    Be nice if they released a decent, non Final Fantasy MMO on major consoles this year. That said, it'd be nice if they released a decent single-player RPG too, something Bioware wouldn't be allowed within a hundred miles of.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 10:06

  • ziggy_played_guitar #17 2 years ago

    No game has healthy sales throughout the year (maybe Cod4 and Mario games are exceptions), they all sell most their copies in the first weeks.

  • space_ace #18 2 years ago

    another sequel reaching for our wallets? :)

  • muscleblade #19 2 years ago

    Split Second. Really?

    That must be looking really good then.

  • ZeroAX #20 2 years ago

    ahem.

    wow cataclysm anyone?

  • CallousB #21 2 years ago

    Halo Reach could well be the biggest seller on a single platform. ..but I suspect the next Call of Duty will sell more in combined sales.

    There seems to be the usual underestimating of Nintendo software by the industry (still burying their heads in the sand).

    2010 sales of New Super Mario Bros Wii and Wii Fit will likely be higher than the vast majority of those games.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 10:15

  • ps3owner #22 2 years ago

    ah, just read it. a prequel. sounds pretty good

  • s11mmy #23 2 years ago

    I hope DC Universe finally comes out this year on the PS. Thats one MMO I think, if done right can potentially do really well!
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 10:30

  • makeamazing #24 2 years ago

    I expect reach to do well in 2010, but isnt there a MOH and another WAW out this year? I suspect based on MW2 sales, those to be near the top two... then there is a Zelda game (I'm not a fan at all, but can see it will sell bucket loads)... so i think Halo will have its work cut out to be top this year.

  • Buran #25 2 years ago

    Starcraft II and GT 5 have more options to be in the #1 of sales. SC II could sell over 5 millions in South Korea alone.

  • Johnsters #26 2 years ago

    I reckon Manic Miner 2 will be epic this year. Especially with the cross FPS/RTS/Driving/Fit board cross over.

  • Chazmeister #27 2 years ago

    How well did ODST sell, I don't think that reached massive figures did it? I think it depends on what Reach is like, if it's just yet another Halo game with the same old weapons and gameplay etc, then I'm not so sure it will be such a mega hit that Halo3 was. Put it this way, every 360 owner I know has bought a copy of Halo 3 but out of those 12 or so people I only know 1 that has bought ODST. I think this new one needs to evolve a bit more radically if it wants to get peoples interest back in the series.

  • metalmike25 #28 2 years ago

    Anyone want to join my campaign to make 'Big trouble in little china' on the commodore 64 the biggest selling game of the year. It's a shit game but it would stick it to the man!

  • altitude2k #29 2 years ago

    @Chazmeister

    I think ODST was one of the highest sellers for the end of the year, apart from MW2 of course. I know it beat UC2's sales by a hell of a long way.

  • metalmike25 #30 2 years ago

    Halo and Call of Duty are kind of the X-Factor of the games world. An idiot could predict that one of them will be the biggest selling game of the year. I think i'll stick to playing peggle

  • Fightclubber #31 2 years ago

    Im sure people by now tho would have noticed that Bungie are one of the worst studios in the business? Has Halo ever improved since Halo one? Same bland empty worlds populated by Saturday morning cartoon characters with fisher price guns all headed up by one of the dullest leading cunts in games

  • Carlo #32 2 years ago

    I doubt Halo will outsell Star Wars and Star Trek MMO's TBH

  • originaljohn #33 2 years ago

    this is shocking, my money will be on some wii game to be honest. And it surprises me to hear that industry 'professionals' predict differently.

  • Triggerhappytel #34 2 years ago

    I would be surprised if the biggest selling game isn't the next CoD instalment, again. Also, if (and that's a big if) R* North release a new full GTA instalment, I would expect that to do terrifically as well. WoW Cataclysm will probably shift several million, and there's likely to be a new Wii Fit/Sports/Kart variant before the year is out.

    I would hope Red Dead Redemption surprises us all with some stellar sales figures, and personally I can't really see Alan Wake or Heavy Rain do particularly well; maybe 1.5-2 million at best (review scores pending).

  • Kerome #35 2 years ago

    It's a decent call for titles published in 2010, the mainstream Halo games have always done well, and I reckon it's down to quality within the franchise whether this is an ODST-style 4.4m (so far) seller, or a Halo3-style 10.7m seller...by comparison Uncharted 2 is still languishing down at 2.5m. Given franchise history you can't expect ME2 or Bioshock 2 to do more than 4m.

    Whether it's cross-platform top seller, well it does depend what the appetite for fitness titles is like, and what Nintendo has up its sleeve besides Zelda. Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit Plus both did very well last year. But its in with a shout.

    Starcraft II, well, it'll sell 5m in Korea alone ;) How well it does outside of that is anyone's guess.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 11:55

  • Murton #36 2 years ago

    Was never a big fan of Halo but have to admit that it sells like nobody's business, that being said I wouldn't tip it for biggest selling game of the year. In my experience Halo tends to be a massive seller in the month it's released and then fizzles out, everyone who wants Halo gets it early on, I suspect the biggest the biggest seller is likely to be something that sells a reasonable number in its opening week and then sustains that interest for a few months, look at Lego Star Wars, still in the charts since its release over two years ago.

    I mean the smart money really has to go on a multiplatform game, Halo will the biggest seller on the 360 much like GT5 or possibly Heavy Rain will be the biggest seller on the PS3 but overall, my pick would probably be Medal of Honour, with all three major platforms to sell to it's almost certain to outperform any 1st party exclusive.

  • Hindle #37 2 years ago

    I think that GT 5 can not be underestimated, lets compare the first 3 Halo games and the first 3 GT games

    Halo - 6.5m sales
    Halo 2 - 9m sales
    Halo 3 - 10m sales

    GT 1 - 11m sales
    GT 2 - 9.3m sales
    GT 3 - 15m sales

    In terms of total sales GT 5 has a chance of outselling Halo as it willl like 2 or 3m in Japan alone
    Gt 3 came out when the PS 2 install base was roughly the size of the Ps3s now
    Edited by 2 at 08/01/10 @ 12:09

  • PoundHound #38 2 years ago

    Insomniac (#8) - although you might not think it judging by your minus rating, there are people out there that agree. And by that, I mean me :) 1 was amazing, 2 was good, 3 was tedious and ODST was pitiful.

    Having said that, I'll buy Reach. If I'm going to be critical of something I need to at least play the damn thing.

  • muscleblade #39 2 years ago

    Halo 1: 10/10
    Halo 2: 10/10
    Halo 3 10/10
    Halo ODST: 10/10

    My opinion and i play a lot of games. I think that many people agree with me looking at both sales and playtime. Halo 2 is still played by a lot of people.

  • WinterSnowblind #40 2 years ago

    @Carlo
    I don't see Star Trek Online selling that well, I'm sure it'll do alright but it's another one of Cryptics MMO's, barley even feels like Star Trek. And Old Republic is most definitely not coming this year, 2012 at the earliest there. They haven't even started game testing, let alone the beta.

    Subscription fee's will definitely turn a lot of people off them as well.

  • bluem4gic #41 2 years ago

    lol i laugh at you guys No way reach will sell the most this year!

  • IneptPercy #42 2 years ago

    "GT 1 - 11m sales
    GT 2 - 9.3m sales
    GT 3 - 15m sales"

    Can the PS3 has the same install base as the PS1 or PS2?

  • Sunyavadin #43 2 years ago

    Starcraft II and GT 5 have more options to be in the #1 of sales. SC II could sell over 5 millions in South Korea alone.

    Maybe, maybe not.

    Depends how quickly some of those talented South Korean hackers get a LAN patch out.

  • Darren #44 2 years ago

    Halo Reach is going to be the final Halo game from Bungie isn't it? While I'm not the greatest fan of Halo these days due to finding the series a bit stale I'll be nevertheles keeping my eye on this final instalment. What interests me more though is what Bungie are going to do next.

  • bodypopper #45 2 years ago

    Presumably Halo Reach will include lots more more turret mounting and Warthog driving amid levels which involve shooting Covenant in first person. The sort of thing that looked very tired in ODST.

  • Santino #46 2 years ago

    there is no chance that list will come close to being correct. Pretending a certain publisher/developer that usually dominates lists like these doesn't exist isn't exactly the smartest way to go about compiling one.

  • WinterSnowblind #47 2 years ago

    @bodypopper
    There were no warthogs in ODST.

  • Charlie_Miso #48 2 years ago

    What a bunch of dumb fucks.

  • Pedrolot #49 2 years ago

    Final Fantasy XIII will be top.

    For starters not only is it on PS3 but the 360. Thats twice the pulling power for a major franchise.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 15:43

  • altitude2k #50 2 years ago

    @WinterSnowblind

    Which ODST were you playing?!

  • Wolverfrog #51 2 years ago

    Well I'm certainly looking forward to it. I doubt CoD '7' will beat it, apparently it's set in Vietnam. CoD fans nowadays like games in a modern setting. All the CoD fans I know groaned when I told them it's going to be in Vietnam.

    Halo: Reach will sell more than CoD '7'.

  • bodypopper #52 2 years ago

    @WinterSnowblind

    Presumably your temporary blindness prevented you from playing the zoo level.

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=MmeNY0T0pl8

  • miiiguel #53 2 years ago

    It's entirely possible (and fun) to playthough ODST without getting into a Warthog. So as "somewhat" usual in the Halo comments thread this Presumably Halo Reach will include lots more more turret mounting and Warthog driving amid levels which involve shooting Covenant in first person. The sort of thing that looked very tired in ODST. is totally untrue.

    If if you want to use a Warthog it's only possible at the begining of second level and half the last.

  • IMD1_Pk #54 2 years ago

    Final Fantasy 13 has no chance of being the top seller of the year or any chance of beating Halo Reach(even in combined sales). Gran Turismo 5 and Halo Reach. It will come down to those 2 titles but my money is on Halo Reach. Every serious Halo player knows ODST was meant to be a side game like Halo Wars and not the full standard Halo title that press outlets and casual halo gamers were thinking it would be(If you were a hardcore halo fan you would have known that much before release). Gran Turismo 5 still has a chance of beating it though because it also is one of those slow burn games like Halo and Nintendo games that will sell many copies later on in the year as well. With such a big head start it can do it but knowing Microsoft, they will make every other tv commercial a Halo Reach ad and paste Master Chief on your babies diapers, billboards, and every gaming site known to man. It's hard to compete with something that will get more marketing dollars.

  • smelly #55 2 years ago

    The smart money will be on mario galaxy 2 or zelda (depending on when it's released) being top.

  • Seabeast #56 2 years ago

    lol @ the people that think GT5 will be the best selling game. I would be suprised if it made top 5. The PS3 isnt selling anything like the PS and PS2 did, for most people its a blu ray player that plays games :)

    Chances are it will be Halo, but probably depends on what the new CoD is.
    Edited by 2 at 09/01/10 @ 03:37

  • Slipstream #57 2 years ago

    It's far too early to say with so little info to go by. Sure it will sell...alot, but game of 2010? I think it will have some hefty competition on its hands if I'm being fair...

  • davisorle #58 2 years ago

    @ps3owner
    You are cause its all said and done by your nickname. And its not even funny neither im being sarcastic.

    Yeah I bet Reach will do most sales if not a strong multiplatform title. Specially if its what its promising from its looks then there is no doupt for it. Alan Wake was mentioned though I doupt it for many reasons.

  • Verminox #59 2 years ago

    @Seabeast - errr the PS3 just sold 3.8million console world wide in December. It has the strongest line up of games for 2010 and will continue to sell more.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/10 @ 10:27

  • NewbieZilla #60 2 years ago

    "I reckon Gran Turismo 5 will be top."

    I'll give it a good 1.5 million. 2 max.

  • Verminox #61 2 years ago

    Yea I think the same for its first couple of days.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/10 @ 11:49

  • ParanoidZombie #62 2 years ago

    Very weird,no one (even in the comments thread) mentioned GOW3. I mean god of war3, not gears 3 ;)

  • thomaspower0 #63 2 years ago

    How could anyone who isn't involved in the developement of the game predict if this will be a best seller or not?

    And it this is a good game only x360 gamers will actually buy it, same for GT5 but with the PS3. If there's a game that could beat Reach(well, if reach is as good as they say) it must be on both consoles.

  • Emmit_Assassin #64 2 years ago

    This whole article just goes to show that absolutely no one has learned any lessons from the Wii sniggering debacle. Everyone predicted the Wii would be a laughing stock before it was launched. And while its not doing as well as it was, we were all wrong.
    I've learned. I'll decide what the biggest selling game of the year is on the 31st December 2010.

    Its like a few years ago Ford made an ad for their new car, the C-Max I think it was. It was in February 2007 and at the end of the ad it said 'Car of the year 2007'. Car of the year? It was f*****g February!

    There are a few AAA titles out in just the first 4 months of this year, let alone the rest.

    Halo has massive fan base power. But never ever forget the power of word of mouth and excellent advertising and product placement.

  • Emmit_Assassin #65 2 years ago

    By the way, I'm not saying Reach will or won't be the top seller, but I am saying that no one can predict what 2010 will bring.

  • Hindle #66 2 years ago

    How can Halo Reach be the biggest selling game of the year when it didnt even win the most anticipated award at the Vgas? GT 5 will sell 1 or 2m in Japan alone plus Europe love Gt as well.

  • WayMucho #67 2 years ago

    I have to agree with this - Halo may be getting a bit tired, but the name alone will guarantee a load of sales. It will also have a new engine and be sold as a full game unlike ODST - i'm sure it will sell a lot more than Halo 3. This year's COD won't sell as many as it's Treyarch, and GT5 (more of a must purchase for me) sales will be limited by the numbers of PS3 consoles compared to PS2. This should be a brilliant year for games and the sheer number of big releases may hold back the sales of some of the not-quite-so-massive franchises and leave some with slightly disappointing sales - but not H4.
    And i just can't see any of the Wii releases being top seller - there are just too many Wii owners happy to stick with Wii Sports (which i think is killing the Wii)
    Edited by 1 at 10/01/10 @ 16:55