Rhys Elliott
@superhys.bsky.social
Head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics.
Ex-Newzoo & Nielsen. Analysis in IGN, BBC, Giant Bomb, The Guardian, GameSpot, GIBiz and more.
Lives on a canal in the Netherlands, but spends most of the time looking at screens instead.
Very Welsh.
Ex-Newzoo & Nielsen. Analysis in IGN, BBC, Giant Bomb, The Guardian, GameSpot, GIBiz and more.
Lives on a canal in the Netherlands, but spends most of the time looking at screens instead.
Very Welsh.
Pinned
Rhys Elliott
@superhys.bsky.social
· Oct 3
EA's $55 billion Saudi buyout: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Electronic Arts is going private in a $55B leveraged buyout (LBO), backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners’ Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law). It’s $36B in...
www.linkedin.com
My thoughts on EA's Saudi buyout:
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
Last week's top Steam games by copies sold (Alinea estimates)
Find a full analysis, including total copies sold for each game, in the new free Alinea Insight newsletter (link in bio and in the comments).
So happy that Dispatch is nearing 1.5M copies sold. Roll on the finale tomorrow <3
Find a full analysis, including total copies sold for each game, in the new free Alinea Insight newsletter (link in bio and in the comments).
So happy that Dispatch is nearing 1.5M copies sold. Roll on the finale tomorrow <3
November 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Last week's top Steam games by copies sold (Alinea estimates)
Find a full analysis, including total copies sold for each game, in the new free Alinea Insight newsletter (link in bio and in the comments).
So happy that Dispatch is nearing 1.5M copies sold. Roll on the finale tomorrow <3
Find a full analysis, including total copies sold for each game, in the new free Alinea Insight newsletter (link in bio and in the comments).
So happy that Dispatch is nearing 1.5M copies sold. Roll on the finale tomorrow <3
Last week's top Steam games by copies sold (Alinea estimates)
Find a full analysis, including total copies sold for each game, in the new free Alinea Insight newsletter (link in bio and in the comments).
So happy that Dispatch is nearing 1.5M copies sold. Roll on the finale tomorrow <3
Find a full analysis, including total copies sold for each game, in the new free Alinea Insight newsletter (link in bio and in the comments).
So happy that Dispatch is nearing 1.5M copies sold. Roll on the finale tomorrow <3
November 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Last week's top Steam games by copies sold (Alinea estimates)
Find a full analysis, including total copies sold for each game, in the new free Alinea Insight newsletter (link in bio and in the comments).
So happy that Dispatch is nearing 1.5M copies sold. Roll on the finale tomorrow <3
Find a full analysis, including total copies sold for each game, in the new free Alinea Insight newsletter (link in bio and in the comments).
So happy that Dispatch is nearing 1.5M copies sold. Roll on the finale tomorrow <3
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
20 years ago today I was trying to find a dodgy little import game shop near Bournemouth with printed-out directions from Google Maps, so I could spend half my meagre pay from my first job on a plastic guitar. Here's Chris Lord on one of the all-time great games:
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
Guitar Hero at 20 – how a plastic axe bridged the gap between rock generations
Guitar Hero’s controllers let anyone become a star in their own living room – and made the bands featured in the game household names again
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:06 PM
20 years ago today I was trying to find a dodgy little import game shop near Bournemouth with printed-out directions from Google Maps, so I could spend half my meagre pay from my first job on a plastic guitar. Here's Chris Lord on one of the all-time great games:
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/games/2025/n...
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
We have ARC Raiders at 2.5M sold, with 69.2% on Steam (1.7M), 17.3% on PlayStation (400K), and 13.5% on Xbox (300K+).
Full analysis in the Alinea Insight Substack:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/arc-raider...
Full analysis in the Alinea Insight Substack:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/arc-raider...
ARC Raiders has sold 2.5M copies
Also, co-op games already made $7B+ on Steam this year. We use Alinea estimates to dive into these topics and explore the pros and cons of extraction shooters.
alineaanalytics.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
We have ARC Raiders at 2.5M sold, with 69.2% on Steam (1.7M), 17.3% on PlayStation (400K), and 13.5% on Xbox (300K+).
Full analysis in the Alinea Insight Substack:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/arc-raider...
Full analysis in the Alinea Insight Substack:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/arc-raider...
We have ARC Raiders at 2.5M sold, with 69.2% on Steam (1.7M), 17.3% on PlayStation (400K), and 13.5% on Xbox (300K+).
Full analysis in the Alinea Insight Substack:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/arc-raider...
Full analysis in the Alinea Insight Substack:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/arc-raider...
ARC Raiders has sold 2.5M copies
Also, co-op games already made $7B+ on Steam this year. We use Alinea estimates to dive into these topics and explore the pros and cons of extraction shooters.
alineaanalytics.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
We have ARC Raiders at 2.5M sold, with 69.2% on Steam (1.7M), 17.3% on PlayStation (400K), and 13.5% on Xbox (300K+).
Full analysis in the Alinea Insight Substack:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/arc-raider...
Full analysis in the Alinea Insight Substack:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/arc-raider...
October's top 10 PlayStation games by copies sold (Alinea estimates)
So much variety. Blockbusters, small games, old games, and new ones are selling. Sports games dominated and perform best on consoles.
‘‘CoNsOlE iS DeAd’’ arguments are getting silly. alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/octobers-t...
So much variety. Blockbusters, small games, old games, and new ones are selling. Sports games dominated and perform best on consoles.
‘‘CoNsOlE iS DeAd’’ arguments are getting silly. alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/octobers-t...
November 4, 2025 at 5:35 PM
October's top 10 PlayStation games by copies sold (Alinea estimates)
So much variety. Blockbusters, small games, old games, and new ones are selling. Sports games dominated and perform best on consoles.
‘‘CoNsOlE iS DeAd’’ arguments are getting silly. alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/octobers-t...
So much variety. Blockbusters, small games, old games, and new ones are selling. Sports games dominated and perform best on consoles.
‘‘CoNsOlE iS DeAd’’ arguments are getting silly. alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/octobers-t...
After seven months on the market, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has sold less on PS5 (2.4M) than Ghost of Yotei did (2.5M) in under three weeks (Alinea estimates)
This samurai showdown is just about settled, I reckon.
Full analysis in the new free Substack:
This samurai showdown is just about settled, I reckon.
Full analysis in the new free Substack:
Ghost of Yotei outsold Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PS5 in under three weeks
Analysing why Yotei has already sold 2.5M copies, but it Shadows took seven months to sell 2.4M on PS5. Plus, another look at our Helldivers 2 estimates (almost 20M sold!)
alineaanalytics.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:59 PM
After seven months on the market, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has sold less on PS5 (2.4M) than Ghost of Yotei did (2.5M) in under three weeks (Alinea estimates)
This samurai showdown is just about settled, I reckon.
Full analysis in the new free Substack:
This samurai showdown is just about settled, I reckon.
Full analysis in the new free Substack:
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
Here's the Steam Next Fest games that added the most followers during the event.
Obviously, some of these already had a bunch of followers before, while some were added to Steam right before the event (so technically had a leg up for this analysis)
Full write-up on the free Substack.
Obviously, some of these already had a bunch of followers before, while some were added to Steam right before the event (so technically had a leg up for this analysis)
Full write-up on the free Substack.
The Steam Next Fest games that gained the most Steam followers
We look at some of Steam Next Fest's biggest success stories, before providing some tips on how to increase your chances of Next Fest glory.
alineaanalytics.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Here's the Steam Next Fest games that added the most followers during the event.
Obviously, some of these already had a bunch of followers before, while some were added to Steam right before the event (so technically had a leg up for this analysis)
Full write-up on the free Substack.
Obviously, some of these already had a bunch of followers before, while some were added to Steam right before the event (so technically had a leg up for this analysis)
Full write-up on the free Substack.
Here's the Steam Next Fest games that added the most followers during the event.
Obviously, some of these already had a bunch of followers before, while some were added to Steam right before the event (so technically had a leg up for this analysis)
Full write-up on the free Substack.
Obviously, some of these already had a bunch of followers before, while some were added to Steam right before the event (so technically had a leg up for this analysis)
Full write-up on the free Substack.
The Steam Next Fest games that gained the most Steam followers
We look at some of Steam Next Fest's biggest success stories, before providing some tips on how to increase your chances of Next Fest glory.
alineaanalytics.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Here's the Steam Next Fest games that added the most followers during the event.
Obviously, some of these already had a bunch of followers before, while some were added to Steam right before the event (so technically had a leg up for this analysis)
Full write-up on the free Substack.
Obviously, some of these already had a bunch of followers before, while some were added to Steam right before the event (so technically had a leg up for this analysis)
Full write-up on the free Substack.
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
We've got @superhys.bsky.social joining Grubb to end the week on Game Mess Mornings!
We're talking about new Nintendo patents, The Crew 2 getting updates, Silent Hill 2 Remake, and more stories for your Friday.
twitch.tv/giantbomb
youtube.com/live/bCCYOYy...
We're talking about new Nintendo patents, The Crew 2 getting updates, Silent Hill 2 Remake, and more stories for your Friday.
twitch.tv/giantbomb
youtube.com/live/bCCYOYy...
October 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
We've got @superhys.bsky.social joining Grubb to end the week on Game Mess Mornings!
We're talking about new Nintendo patents, The Crew 2 getting updates, Silent Hill 2 Remake, and more stories for your Friday.
twitch.tv/giantbomb
youtube.com/live/bCCYOYy...
We're talking about new Nintendo patents, The Crew 2 getting updates, Silent Hill 2 Remake, and more stories for your Friday.
twitch.tv/giantbomb
youtube.com/live/bCCYOYy...
Valve’s upcoming hero shooter, Deadlock, has 5.5M wishlists (Alinea Analytics estimates)
Players are continuing to find (and wishlist) it despite the lack of marketing. Over 1.2M people did the past three months alone.
Wishlist data deep dive here:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/deadlock-i...
Players are continuing to find (and wishlist) it despite the lack of marketing. Over 1.2M people did the past three months alone.
Wishlist data deep dive here:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/deadlock-i...
Deadlock is Steam’s most wishlisted upcoming multiplayer game
Zooming in on our wishlist data for Deadlock, before looking at some benchmarks for Alinea estimates (our numbers vs. October’s publisher announcements).
alineaanalytics.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Valve’s upcoming hero shooter, Deadlock, has 5.5M wishlists (Alinea Analytics estimates)
Players are continuing to find (and wishlist) it despite the lack of marketing. Over 1.2M people did the past three months alone.
Wishlist data deep dive here:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/deadlock-i...
Players are continuing to find (and wishlist) it despite the lack of marketing. Over 1.2M people did the past three months alone.
Wishlist data deep dive here:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/deadlock-i...
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
So that Battlefield 6 is doing alright then...
Over 6.5 million copies sold, as per Alinea estimates (56.7% via Steam, 23.7% via PS5, and 19.6% via Xbox).
It's made over $350M in gross revenue so far.
But can it keep up the momentum?
Big data deep dive:
Over 6.5 million copies sold, as per Alinea estimates (56.7% via Steam, 23.7% via PS5, and 19.6% via Xbox).
It's made over $350M in gross revenue so far.
But can it keep up the momentum?
Big data deep dive:
Battlefield 6 is a smash-hit launch: 6.5m+ sold and counting
A BIG data deep dive into the triumphant return of the Battlefield franchise. But can EA keep up the momentum?
alineaanalytics.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:05 PM
So that Battlefield 6 is doing alright then...
Over 6.5 million copies sold, as per Alinea estimates (56.7% via Steam, 23.7% via PS5, and 19.6% via Xbox).
It's made over $350M in gross revenue so far.
But can it keep up the momentum?
Big data deep dive:
Over 6.5 million copies sold, as per Alinea estimates (56.7% via Steam, 23.7% via PS5, and 19.6% via Xbox).
It's made over $350M in gross revenue so far.
But can it keep up the momentum?
Big data deep dive:
So that Battlefield 6 is doing alright then...
Over 6.5 million copies sold, as per Alinea estimates (56.7% via Steam, 23.7% via PS5, and 19.6% via Xbox).
It's made over $350M in gross revenue so far.
But can it keep up the momentum?
Big data deep dive:
Over 6.5 million copies sold, as per Alinea estimates (56.7% via Steam, 23.7% via PS5, and 19.6% via Xbox).
It's made over $350M in gross revenue so far.
But can it keep up the momentum?
Big data deep dive:
Battlefield 6 is a smash-hit launch: 6.5m+ sold and counting
A BIG data deep dive into the triumphant return of the Battlefield franchise. But can EA keep up the momentum?
alineaanalytics.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:05 PM
So that Battlefield 6 is doing alright then...
Over 6.5 million copies sold, as per Alinea estimates (56.7% via Steam, 23.7% via PS5, and 19.6% via Xbox).
It's made over $350M in gross revenue so far.
But can it keep up the momentum?
Big data deep dive:
Over 6.5 million copies sold, as per Alinea estimates (56.7% via Steam, 23.7% via PS5, and 19.6% via Xbox).
It's made over $350M in gross revenue so far.
But can it keep up the momentum?
Big data deep dive:
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
Here's last month's best-selling PlayStation games by copies sold (Alinea estimates).
September was a big month for sports games, but horror also started to make an appearance.
Football and spooky season in full force.
Analysis below:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/septembers...
September was a big month for sports games, but horror also started to make an appearance.
Football and spooky season in full force.
Analysis below:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/septembers...
October 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Here's last month's best-selling PlayStation games by copies sold (Alinea estimates).
September was a big month for sports games, but horror also started to make an appearance.
Football and spooky season in full force.
Analysis below:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/septembers...
September was a big month for sports games, but horror also started to make an appearance.
Football and spooky season in full force.
Analysis below:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/septembers...
Here's last month's best-selling PlayStation games by copies sold (Alinea estimates).
September was a big month for sports games, but horror also started to make an appearance.
Football and spooky season in full force.
Analysis below:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/septembers...
September was a big month for sports games, but horror also started to make an appearance.
Football and spooky season in full force.
Analysis below:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/septembers...
October 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Here's last month's best-selling PlayStation games by copies sold (Alinea estimates).
September was a big month for sports games, but horror also started to make an appearance.
Football and spooky season in full force.
Analysis below:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/septembers...
September was a big month for sports games, but horror also started to make an appearance.
Football and spooky season in full force.
Analysis below:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/septembers...
My thoughts on EA's Saudi buyout:
EA's $55 billion Saudi buyout: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Electronic Arts is going private in a $55B leveraged buyout (LBO), backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners’ Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law). It’s $36B in...
www.linkedin.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My thoughts on EA's Saudi buyout:
On PlayStation, FC 26 sold more in one week than the one-week sales for NBA, MLB, and the American football games combined.
This kind of data often surprises American friends. Soccer is CRAZY popular, and that extends to games.
This kind of data often surprises American friends. Soccer is CRAZY popular, and that extends to games.
October 3, 2025 at 2:51 PM
On PlayStation, FC 26 sold more in one week than the one-week sales for NBA, MLB, and the American football games combined.
This kind of data often surprises American friends. Soccer is CRAZY popular, and that extends to games.
This kind of data often surprises American friends. Soccer is CRAZY popular, and that extends to games.
September's top games by downloads across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox (Alinea estimates)
Skate really exceeded expectations (keep in mind it's F2P, though).
Full write-up in the new free Alinea Substack -- as well as my take on the Saudi EA buyout:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/skate-lead...
Skate really exceeded expectations (keep in mind it's F2P, though).
Full write-up in the new free Alinea Substack -- as well as my take on the Saudi EA buyout:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/skate-lead...
October 3, 2025 at 2:23 PM
September's top games by downloads across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox (Alinea estimates)
Skate really exceeded expectations (keep in mind it's F2P, though).
Full write-up in the new free Alinea Substack -- as well as my take on the Saudi EA buyout:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/skate-lead...
Skate really exceeded expectations (keep in mind it's F2P, though).
Full write-up in the new free Alinea Substack -- as well as my take on the Saudi EA buyout:
alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/skate-lead...
Hades II has already sold 2M+ in early access, as per our estimates.
Since its early-access launch in May 2024, it's generated almost $55M in revenue.
But the floodgates will open when it hits 1.0 TOMORROW.
Now that I've finished Silksong (Groal the Great🖕), I can't wait to get back into Hades.
Since its early-access launch in May 2024, it's generated almost $55M in revenue.
But the floodgates will open when it hits 1.0 TOMORROW.
Now that I've finished Silksong (Groal the Great🖕), I can't wait to get back into Hades.
September 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Hades II has already sold 2M+ in early access, as per our estimates.
Since its early-access launch in May 2024, it's generated almost $55M in revenue.
But the floodgates will open when it hits 1.0 TOMORROW.
Now that I've finished Silksong (Groal the Great🖕), I can't wait to get back into Hades.
Since its early-access launch in May 2024, it's generated almost $55M in revenue.
But the floodgates will open when it hits 1.0 TOMORROW.
Now that I've finished Silksong (Groal the Great🖕), I can't wait to get back into Hades.
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
Last week's top Steam games by copies sold for you! (Alinea Analytics estimates)
It's indies and horror galore. CAN'T BLOODY WAIT for spooky season.
More data and insights in the new free Alinea Insight Substack.
Link: alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/dying-ligh...
It's indies and horror galore. CAN'T BLOODY WAIT for spooky season.
More data and insights in the new free Alinea Insight Substack.
Link: alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/dying-ligh...
September 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Last week's top Steam games by copies sold for you! (Alinea Analytics estimates)
It's indies and horror galore. CAN'T BLOODY WAIT for spooky season.
More data and insights in the new free Alinea Insight Substack.
Link: alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/dying-ligh...
It's indies and horror galore. CAN'T BLOODY WAIT for spooky season.
More data and insights in the new free Alinea Insight Substack.
Link: alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/dying-ligh...
Last week's top Steam games by copies sold for you! (Alinea Analytics estimates)
It's indies and horror galore. CAN'T BLOODY WAIT for spooky season.
More data and insights in the new free Alinea Insight Substack.
Link: alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/dying-ligh...
It's indies and horror galore. CAN'T BLOODY WAIT for spooky season.
More data and insights in the new free Alinea Insight Substack.
Link: alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/dying-ligh...
September 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Last week's top Steam games by copies sold for you! (Alinea Analytics estimates)
It's indies and horror galore. CAN'T BLOODY WAIT for spooky season.
More data and insights in the new free Alinea Insight Substack.
Link: alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/dying-ligh...
It's indies and horror galore. CAN'T BLOODY WAIT for spooky season.
More data and insights in the new free Alinea Insight Substack.
Link: alineaanalytics.substack.com/p/dying-ligh...
Reposted by Rhys Elliott
Borderlands 4 has amassed over 2.5 million players since its September 12 launch, amounting to revenues of over $150 million
www.gamesindustry.biz/borderlands-...
www.gamesindustry.biz/borderlands-...
Borderlands 4 amasses over 2.5m players since launch
Borderlands 4 has amassed over 2.5 million players since its September 12 launch, amounting to revenues of over $150 mi…
www.gamesindustry.biz
September 22, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Borderlands 4 has amassed over 2.5 million players since its September 12 launch, amounting to revenues of over $150 million
www.gamesindustry.biz/borderlands-...
www.gamesindustry.biz/borderlands-...
Players are DEVOURING Silksong, which has amassed 6M+ players overall and 3.5M+ sold on Steam (Alinea estimates).
Of those Steam players, 1.1% (around 40 K) have played for over 100 hours in the past two weeks.
That’s two full work weeks (then some!).
Wild.
And plenty of 'sick' days, I reckon.
Of those Steam players, 1.1% (around 40 K) have played for over 100 hours in the past two weeks.
That’s two full work weeks (then some!).
Wild.
And plenty of 'sick' days, I reckon.
September 19, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Players are DEVOURING Silksong, which has amassed 6M+ players overall and 3.5M+ sold on Steam (Alinea estimates).
Of those Steam players, 1.1% (around 40 K) have played for over 100 hours in the past two weeks.
That’s two full work weeks (then some!).
Wild.
And plenty of 'sick' days, I reckon.
Of those Steam players, 1.1% (around 40 K) have played for over 100 hours in the past two weeks.
That’s two full work weeks (then some!).
Wild.
And plenty of 'sick' days, I reckon.