Unfavorable information for the Flower Division
In 2020, Sega decided to restart the long-running RPG series Sakura Wars. With the explicit goal of revitalizing the brand for the new decade, the year saw the release of a pretty decent PS4 reboot in the west, along with a new anime, a amazing stage show, and a plenty of new trademarks.
Regretfully, it appears that this strategy may have encountered an especially harsh obstacle, as reports indicate that DelightWorks' recently released mobile title, Sakura Revolution: Hanasaki Maidens, has collapsed miserably at launch. According to a Business Journal article (interpreted by Resetera user Joseki), the free-to-play gacha game earned a pitiful ¥73 million (roughly $703,000 USD) in its first month of sales, placing it 215th in the charts for mobile sales.
Even if a six-figure payment is not insignificant on its own, it is very low income for an Asian mobile game to make in its first month of release, given that even the most modest of games are often anticipated to debut in the Top 50, if not higher. What's really at stake is the offset of Sakura Revolution's development and marketing budget, which industry observers estimate to be close to ¥3 billion, or a confusing $30 million USD.
If the information above is accurate (mainly analyst speculation rather than official Sega numbers), the main concern is how Sakura Revolution would affect Sega's plans for the Sakura Wars relaunch. Although the franchise still has a lot of fans, including myself, and has even drawn in new players with its recent initiatives, Sega may decide that it's time for this venerable series to end given the energy, character, and legacy of Sakura Wars. That would be a terrible shame if Sakura Revolution is indeed the financial disaster that is being discussed in whispers.
The earnings from the smartphone game Sakura Wars is "a catastrophe." [Joseki, a Resetera user/Business Journal]