CI Games Expects Lords of the Fallen to Generate $100 Million in Net Revenue

Key insights

5 takeaways

01
CI Games has set a $100 million net revenue target for Lords of the Fallen, which sold over 1 million units in its first 10 days.
02
The title required a total investment of $66.6 million, split between $42 million in development costs and $19 million in marketing.
03
Despite a 43% year-over-year increase in consolidated revenue, CI Games reported an operating loss of approximately $425,000 for the first three quarters of 2023.
04
Lords of the Fallen achieved a peak of over 43,000 concurrent players on Steam, though current user reviews remain mixed at a 60% positive rating.
05
Developer Hexworks is currently managing the game's lifecycle through ongoing patches while simultaneously working on a new AAA action-RPG, codenamed Project 3, for a 2024 release.

Summary

CI Games has established an ambitious long-term revenue target of $100 million for its title, Lords of the Fallen. Following a successful launch period that saw the game sell over 1 million units within its first 10 days, the publisher has identified the title as a primary driver for its future financial growth. This goal is supported by strong initial engagement, including a peak of over 43,000 concurrent players on Steam, which outperformed other notable entries in the Soulslike genre.

The financial context for this target involves a total investment of $66.6 million, comprising $42 million in development costs and $19 million in marketing expenditures. While these significant outlays contributed to an operating loss of approximately $425,000 for CI Games during the first three quarters of 2023, the company simultaneously reported a 43% year-over-year increase in consolidated revenue.

Despite the commercial momentum, the title has faced mixed reception from the player base, with Steam user reviews currently hovering at a 60% positive rating. In response, the developer, Hexworks, is actively managing the game’s lifecycle through ongoing patches and support. Looking ahead, CI Games continues to expand its portfolio, with Hexworks currently developing a new AAA action-RPG, codenamed Project 3, slated for a 2024 release, alongside other projects in development by the publisher’s internal studios.