Yesterday, Ubisoft announced that its cute, vertical platformer, Grow Home has become the company’s most quickly downloaded game on the PlayStation Network – even sending out a lovely press release to that effect.
“As the winner in the Vote to Play program, says the press release, Grow Home was available to all PlayStation Plus members as part of their Instant Game Collection and quickly became the fastest-downloaded Ubisoft title with over 2 million downloads in its first week.”
That’s all lovely, and very warm and cuddly, which should give the young team at Ubisoft Reflections that fuzzy feeling inside.
“We are thrilled that BUD has found a new home in the PS4 community,” said Pete Young, producer of the game at Ubisoft Reflections. “Grow Home was a great opportunity for our team to experiment and develop new technology and have fun at the same time.”
Of course, looking at it critically, it’s not all that great a number is it? Especially not for a game that, for all intents and purposes, is free – particularly taking the number of people who subscribe to PlayStation Plus in to account.
At last count, nearly a year ago, PlayStation Plus had reached around 8 million subscribers – a number that’s likely swelled since then. At the time, half of PlayStation 4 owners paid for the service, putting the value then at 3.5 million PlayStation 4-owning Plus subscribers. There is now closer to 25 million PlayStation 4s in homes.
If we extrapolate using admittedly astoundingly terrible logic and associated maths, we should have around 10 million PlayStation Plus subscribers, meaning that just a fifth of them downloaded Grow Home.
I love Ubisoft’s “big indie” or indie-esque games – with Child of Light and Valiant Hearts some of my favourite games to come from the company. I have to say that as cute and charming as Grow Home is, it doesn’t sit amongst those games at my table of favour; its charm and unique controls wear thin rather quickly.
Last Updated: September 17, 2015
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 17, 2015 at 08:34
If the main character is called BUD, does that mean all the players are… BUDDIES?!
PoisonedBelial
September 17, 2015 at 08:39
Did you really just do that? o_O
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 17, 2015 at 08:42
I had to, it’s #PunThursday
PoisonedBelial
September 17, 2015 at 08:47
At least you are trying to be punny… XD
RinceThis
September 17, 2015 at 08:46
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/3006442/ronaldinho-red-card-o.gif
Splooshypooh
September 17, 2015 at 08:42
“for and intents and purposes”… so glad i have FINALLY seen someone on the internet use that correctly. Thanks Geoff 😉
Splooshypooh
September 17, 2015 at 08:43
FU&K! I meant “for all”
Admiral Chief Returns
September 17, 2015 at 09:02
xD
Ryanza
September 17, 2015 at 08:42
I always talk about the offline gamer, the gamer without internet. The online stat is usually around half. Half will be connected and the other half won’t be connected to the internet. That is why Xbox One is selling half of what PS4 sold.
DRM, especially always online DRM, is cutting off half of those who were interested in buying a game. That is were you find loss in sales, not through the pirates. But no1 speaks about that.
Don’t Support DRM. It’s cutting off gamers and taking the value of the product away from you.
RinceThis
September 17, 2015 at 08:43
I knew this was written by Geoff even before I scrolled down. 2m downloads is nothing to be sneezed at. He just doesn’t like the game 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 17, 2015 at 09:02
I bet he thought it’s only 200 000 downloads.
RinceThis
September 17, 2015 at 09:14
hahahahah
Geoffrey Tim
September 17, 2015 at 09:02
The grumpy cat header really should be a dead giveaway.
RinceThis
September 17, 2015 at 09:14
Multiple use this week. You should feel shame.
Geoffrey Tim
September 17, 2015 at 10:38
I’ve decided to use it whenever I’m being cynical. expect it at least 7 more times this week.
GTV DAD
September 17, 2015 at 08:44
GH got boring after a few games
WitWolfy
September 17, 2015 at 08:55
Well the reason people chose it is was because it looked the most appealing of the games we could choose.
konfab
September 17, 2015 at 08:50
Dragging a sheep up a mountain into a beacon has got to be one of the more satisfying things I have ever done in a computer game.
That being said, I haven’t really felt the urge to pop in the virtual disk and play it again.
WitWolfy
September 17, 2015 at 08:53
Havent played it yet myself..But will soon.
RinceThis
September 17, 2015 at 09:07
Also, for multiple use of Angry cat this week… http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/4085255/lucic-red-card-o.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 17, 2015 at 09:12
It’s Grumpy Cat, you Numpty Cat. :/
RinceThis
September 17, 2015 at 09:14
Whatever! I don’t CARE! TRALALALAL!
Nikola
September 17, 2015 at 09:33
I would never download it even if it’s for free, doesn’t even look like a game to me….
Allykhat
September 17, 2015 at 10:41
Didnt even add it to my PSN 😀
Jonah Cash
September 17, 2015 at 11:16
I really enjoyed playing Grow Home… right up to the point where you have to go look for the seeds that fell back down again. Not doing that ever! I consider it done now.
Milesh Bhana
September 17, 2015 at 12:18
I voted Armillo, looked the like the best on that list imo.