Age of Conan ships 1 million

Unrepentantly bloody fantasy RPG lays claim to the title of "biggest MMO launch since World of Warcraft" after topping best-seller lists in the US and Europe.

Today Funcom sent out a press release with the title "Age of Conan Reaches One Million Milestone." At first glance, many took the headline as meaning the Norwegian developer's massively multiplayer online role-playing game Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures had already enrolled 1 million subscribers. That would be a mean feat, given that it had only 400,000 subscribers last week.

However, the 1 million figure refers instead to the number of Age of Conan games shipped to retailers, not units sold or actual subscribers. Of those, 500,000 units had shipped in North America, with the remaining half earning Funcom harder currency over in Europe. The game has topped sales charts on both sides of the Atlantic, where press outlets have given it enough critical praise for it to rack up a solid 84 Metacritic average.

Despite any perceived shipped/sold/subscriber discrepancy, the game has hit an impressive milestone. It's a milestone that, according to Funcom, has not been achieved by any MMORPG since a certain Blizzard Entertainment title was released in 2004.

"Sales data shows that Age of Conan is the biggest MMO launch since World of Warcraft," Funcom vice president of sales and marketing Morten Larssen declared. "The numbers are very promising, and we are very proud to be one of the fastest selling PC games ever during launch month and the biggest simultaneous Europe/US MMO launch in history."

For a complete rundown on Age of Conan, check out GameSpot's full review of the PC version of the game. Funcom is also developing an Xbox 360 edition, which has yet to receive a release date.

126 Comments

  • V3ritas46

    Posted Jun 15, 2008 9:14 am PT

    PC gaming is not dead. Before I started playing PC i thought it was. But when I began playing PC games I realized I had 10 times the hours played on my computer than XBOX 360. The PC is more customizable and can be added on to year after year instead of a new set of everything every 5 or 6. And anyways, the technology that is put into "next gen" consoles was most likely already out far before its launch for use in PC's. Face it. PC gaming is far from dead. It may even outweigh and outlive consoles.

    Age of Conan looks spectacular by the way. =] Wants it.

  • PandaBear86

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 10:51 pm PT

    How anybody can play a complex MMORPG on a console with 512mb shared RAM/V-RAM while using a gamepad is beyond me. If you plan on getting this game, get the PC version. You can still play on older hardware.

  • runstalker

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 6:35 pm PT

    If you can play this sucker with high detail textures, shadows and shaders, it's really quite awesome-looking. It goes from bland-ish me-too western style fantasy art at low and medium settings to really polished, shader-licious sophistication on max details. A $110 Core 2 processor is enough, plus a $200 video card and 2.5 to 4 gigs of RAM is a must. A smartly shopped/built $600 pc can run AoC well, and with image settings that look next-gen.

  • bigelf72

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 6:12 pm PT

    AoC is a blast!

  • BloodMist

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 4:38 pm PT

    Haha, i really hate when publishers do that.Still impressive though.

  • Icky27

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 6:58 am PT

    I like WoW, but it's really nice to see a game come along and raise the bar in the MMO market. That helps us all out. But I'll wait for Warhammer, or the Starcraft MMO

  • Diernes

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 2:19 am PT

    Will be picking this up in a few months when the content is a little more fleshed out. i have learnt my lesson with MMORPG's on release.

    I really hope this ends up being more successful than WOW. WOW is one of the most overated games I have ever played, and definately the most overated MMORPG ever

  • world69star69

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 9:08 pm PT

    Aoc is the funnest mmo ever! I've play eq2, wow, guildwars, vanguard, lotro, and silkroad, runescape, and the only ones I've liked were eq2, lotro, vanguard(while pop was up) and AOC...But Aoc beats all of them in new fresh ideas, fun active gameplay and graphics and physics, that rival and beat Oblivions. Not to mention the fun as hell combat system, bloody animations, mortal combat inspired fatalites, voice acting, and in depth character custimization and variety in classes. All in all this is the mmo to get...the only people who rag on it and praise wow are poor kids playing on their moms dell, and are just trying to put it down because either they can't play it or they are not old enough to play and the store clerk or bum outside turned them down.

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 6:59 pm PT

    hey guys i really am thinking about getting this one please message my email to let me know if its worth it cause i really have never played mmos except a little bit of warcraft so i honestly dont know witch ones are worth getting and is it worth the money to shell out and how much is it every month etc. I am a hardcore gamer and have been since the nes so i am thinking about expanding to pc from my 360 and ps3 but i really just dont know if this is the one to transition over for with me. also can you use a game controller like an xbox 360 controller on this one cause ive never been a fan of playing with a mouse and keyboard. so anyways hit me up and let me know. thanks guys cause this is one i am definitely trusting your guys opinions with.

  • jakob_187

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 4:33 pm PT

    I played on my cousin's account for a few hours. Definitely a fun little game, and I could easily see it being a huge MMO. Nonetheless, I just don't know how well the MMO market is going to hold up whenever Age of Conan, WoW, WAR, and Champions are all out.

  • goudan0

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 4:33 pm PT

    i think this might beat wow i think its more fun

  • Kez1984

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 3:44 pm PT

    calanorn@ The guys are troll or an idiot. Both formats have good games like rbop said, howver, anyone bashing the pc though, should be aware, alot of the great games, came from people who started off on the pc as small company's, Valve (halflife), 2k (bioshock), Bioware (kotor/mass effect) and Bethesda (Morrowind/Oblivion), so, if your bashing pc games, you might as well bash many of the big name console games.

  • Gammit10

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    They've got great momentum going for them. Good job, Funcom.

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 12:07 pm PT

    RequiemDogma - WoW wasn't bugged, it was the insane amount of server load that was hurting everything. WoW showed companies what can happen when demand totally overwhelms the supply.

    Anyway, nice to see AoC doing alright but it's more impressive when you actually sell/sub then ship a million copies. Surprised Gamespot actually had a good headline for this and didn't try to hype it like the publisher is.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 12:05 pm PT

    i will definately get this on 360 and assume the 360 & PC world is the same. Just hope MS subsidise our subscriptions with our XBL fees.

  • rbop

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 11:04 am PT

    @calanorn - Not disputing the console vs PC rpg argument... but, c'mon: Dragon Warrior, KOTOR, Mass Effect, Phantasy Star, FF, Bioshock, Elder Scrolls, M&M... the list continues. Consoles are NOT lacking.

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 10:54 am PT

    This game looks absolutely amazing and im not surprised it has done so well. conan is one of my all time favorites since arnold made the movie all those years ago. I still watch it today and its just amazing how you can share something like this with your kids and say this is from your fathers or grandfathers time and is still mainstream today. its awsome just like being able to share starwars with my kids. any ways its good to see an mmo like this that will be around for a long time because there are so many out there you dont know witch one to get. i hope this becomes available for consoles 360 and ps3 alike so we can all game together. if they did this they would sell so much more then just staying as a pc. they say its coming for 360 but they dont know when. I would like to see this on the ps3 as well. this game is going to be here for a long time and that feels good. see you online people.

  • MadJax

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 10:45 am PT

    Hellmetal, a player kicking others off a cliff with a horse isn't a flaw with the game. Thats like saying spawn campers in an FPS are a flaw in the game.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 9:31 am PT

    I can't wait for the 360 version!

  • Hellmetal789

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 9:31 am PT

    meh another mmo taht looks better but has its flaws like kicking people off cliffs on a horse.

  • Funkyhamster

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 7:18 am PT

    Already? That's pretty impressive...

  • eldude007

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 7:07 am PT

    Good stuff. However, I'll be waiting for the 360 version since I don't want to spend cash on upgrading my computer. Now all we need is the new Conan film to begin production.

  • GriffinLord602

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 6:40 am PT

    Well I say well done, because even though people are allowed to like WoW, I think its about time we had another big player onto the market of MMO's

  • d3f1anc3

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 3:46 am PT

    I was in the beta... it's an amazing game. Def. picking it up when I'm not busy with other things.

  • Cobra5

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 3:21 am PT

    Seeing as I think WoW is boring as hell, after playing for three months, its good to hear that something else MIGHT start to catch on...

  • Lividrecca

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 3:15 am PT

    Gratz for being second best but even the WoW expansions sell about 2.5million in the first days...

  • Mortal_Medic

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 2:33 am PT

    Well I guess despite all the bad news that was spread about it being buggy/lack of endgame content didn't stall it (then again that was after they shipped these out).

    They still should be congradulated, I expect this will add some form of confidence to other MMO makers who believe they can snag a chunk of the market. Which is either a good thing, alternatives to bored, wow-ed out gamers like myself; or we should all expect more half-decent to worthless MMOs to flood the market in the coming years. Funny how the ratings system didn't seem to have that great of an effect on the sales. I guess we could see how Warhammer does with its (presumed) teen rating.

  • calanorn

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 2:11 am PT

    Whilst i believe that some things are better on a console gutz like fighting games driving etc. how can you say the best RPG's are on consoles???

    when the consoles have games like NWN 1/2, icewind dale, vampire the masqurade, baldur's gate (no not that crappy hack and slash one either) and there just the more popular ones not even counting the MMO(RPG)

    now what do the consoles have a few FF titles although FF is a big hit i hate the series but thats not the point i cannot think of 1 decent RPG on a console system and definately nothing on the level of baldur's gate or neverwinter nights.

    Also i dont know what flying sims you play on consoles but raising and lowering the landing gear does not count as a sim.

    and if mouse and keyboard is so shodddy and such a big step backwards why would your godly consoles provide support for key board gaming so why do you jsut jsut up and banter about something u know about instead of taking garbage.

    and for anyone else who wants to take a dig about pc gaming it has been around for years now it has outlived every single console to date with all there innovative ideas and next gen bull and they will outlive this generation of console. all without having the change there design in any way. and just for the record i do own and like the ps3 and 360 had a wii but they suck.

    PC gaming ftw.

  • RequiemDogma

    Posted Jun 8, 2008 12:43 am PT

    Flackstone, you clearly don't know what you're talking about. I remember when WoW was so bugged up they had to GIVE people free time for the days it wouldn't work. Give AoC a year... you'll clearly see which is better, and which is a cartoony load of crap nearing the same garbage game style that Korean MMO's use.

  • flackstone posted Jun 7, 2008 11:51 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    flackstone

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 11:51 pm PT (hide)

    clocktalk This Game is NOT all that!! WOW is WAY WAY better than this will ever be. Way to many bugs , only 3 races and it is not nearly as fun. If you want a MMORPG go buy WoW and save your money by NOT buying AoC because it SUCKS!!!!

    thanks for the opinion right wing nut bar.

  • flackstone posted Jun 7, 2008 11:51 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    flackstone

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 11:51 pm PT (hide)

    clocktalk This Game is NOT all that!! WOW is WAY WAY better than this will ever be. Way to many bugs , only 3 races and it is not nearly as fun. If you want a MMORPG go buy WoW and save your money by NOT buying AoC because it SUCKS!!!!

    Thank you for the impinion right wing nut bar.

  • HeroxOfxThexDay

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 11:16 pm PT

    i have to wait for the 360 realease, dont have time or money to upgrade my pc

  • Mehfuz

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 7:55 pm PT

    i need to get this game

  • CodyTG

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 7:49 pm PT

    How is PC gaming dead? I play PC games as much as consoles if not more. Mouse and keyboard for FPS's will always be better than a controller IMO.

  • Drower

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 5:39 pm PT

    Kez1984, no kidding.

    PC is the home for true FPS. No gamepad can measure up against mouse and keyboard there. RPG and strategy, same thing there. And flight sims... the guy has to be joking. Are there even any flight sims at all on console? (No, Ace Combat is not a flight sim)

  • Kez1984

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    "Get rid of RTS and MMO on PC and the PC market is no longer a $1 billion a year market. "

    The Pc is not a dreamcast, it does not "die"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games

    Pc

    Half-Life: 8 million Crysis: (3 million now according to pc gamer )
    Half-Life 2: 4 million
    Doom 3: 3.5 million

    Xbox
    Halo 2: 8 million Halo: Combat Evolved: 5 million units.
    Call of Duty 2: Big Red One 1.39 million Xbox 360
    Halo 3: 8.1 million units
    Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 3.172 million Perfect Dark Zero: 1.5 million

  • dennisheadley

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 5:21 pm PT

    I am enjoying AoC very much at this point. I do believe it has been the smoothest launch of any MMO that I tried yet. And I have played allot of games from launch. EQ, EQII, Vangaurd, Tabula Rosa, AC, AC2, The Matrix, Horizons, WoW, SWG, AO, DDO, LotR, DAoC, GW, Lineage II, FF.....man the list goes on and on. This game beats them all out of the gate. I am not to the high end content yet, or even lack there of, but I can tell you for sure that every game I have played has had a deffinte lack of high end content at launch. For those that try to say that WoW didn't have allot more issue than this game at launch I would say they weren't actually playing at launch. WoW is a prime example of a game with virtually no high level content at launch.

  • Kez1984

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 5:12 pm PT

    "As for games. The best RPGS are on the consoles, the best FPS are on the consoles, the best racing games, the best flight sims, and all the top RTS are released on the console."

    Guts5 is on another planet I think.

  • clocktalk posted Jun 7, 2008 5:08 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    clocktalk

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 5:08 pm PT (hide)

    This Game is NOT all that!! WOW is WAY WAY better than this will ever be. Way to many bugs , only 3 races and it is not nearly as fun. If you want a MMORPG go buy WoW and save your money by NOT buying AoC because it SUCKS!!!!

  • rad2071

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 4:46 pm PT

    by the time they fix the bugs and add patches this game will easily be the leading mmo. easily

  • Eko_Eko_Azarak

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 3:36 pm PT

    I'm glad that Age of Conan is going on strong. It looks like an awesome game and from what I've played of it, it was a lot of fun.

    Now where's that Diablo 3....

  • Hekynn

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 2:48 pm PT

    Damn WTG Funcom!! I'm liking AoC I play on the SeT server hated pvp people kept on killing me during my questing time =(

  • Syzgygy

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 1:25 pm PT

    "Some one said that AoC has a few games already out"

    What? Haha.

  • Natdaddy

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 12:54 pm PT

    Guts is actually arguing that a gamepad is superior to a mouse and keyboard combo in an FPS? Even the pro console fps players understand that the mouse and keyboard always has been superior.

    Someone check this kid into the nearest psych ward.

  • lukeyboymiller

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 12:53 pm PT

    I havent even looked at AoC yet, but im sure, very sure, that it will not compare to WoW. Some one said that AoC has a few games already out, and Warcraft doesnt. Er ? is that person an idoit ? im not even gunna bother to name Blizzards games, WoW owns,

  • FriendBear

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 12:52 pm PT

    Once everything is working properly, content for 60+ and raiding implemented then AoC will become a MMo force to be reckoned with.

  • earlthecannibal

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 12:42 pm PT

    @Guts5 ...lmao! all that coming from a Halo fan boy ...u crack me up loser =) Pc's will always be a better game platform, just because you and a few others think consoles are better there are thousands i mean millions of people who know better. Controllers vs mouse ...lol never will a controller be as accurate as a 2500 dpi gaming mouse ...never! why do u think they gimp cross platform fps games? anyway im off to play on my $2500.00 gaming rig have fun playing Halo =) and your gaycube.

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