The Japanese role-playing game market saw the launch of several highly anticipated titles in early 2023, including Persona 5 Royal, Like a Dragon: Ishin!, and Final Fantasy XVI. However, one sleeper hit has surged past them all in early sales – Cygames’ Granblue Fantasy: Relink. Despite relatively little fanfare overseas, Relink has now sold over 1 million copies just two weeks after release.
Granblue Fantasy has been a mobile gaming phenomenon in Japan since launching in 2014. Its gacha-style monetization and expansive roster of characters has earned it huge popularity and revenue. Cygames has steadily expanded the IP into console gaming, with their previous effort being the fighting game Granblue Fantasy Versus.
Relink represents their biggest leap yet, translating the mobile RPG into a full-fledged action-RPG adventure for PlayStation. It retains the series’ signature art style and colorful cast of heroes, letting players hack and slash through gorgeous fantasy environments.
Granblue Fantasy’s Road to a Console Blockbuster
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Reception to Relink has been moderately positive, earning a 76 on Metacritic. Reviewers praise its stunning visuals and satisfying combat, but criticize the repetitive missions and thin narrative so far. Our own 3/5 star review concluded it was fun but lacking deeper substance.
Regardless, Japanese gamers have turned out in droves, propelling sales upward despite launching alongside higher-profile competitors. Cygames’ established fanbase and Relink’s multiplatform strategy likely provided a strong boost. The game is also available on PS4 and PC.
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The sales milestone proves the enduring popularity of Granblue Fantasy in its home market. While it lacks the widespread fame of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest outside Japan, Granblue has cultivated a loyal following eager to enjoy new takes on the franchise. Cygames is rewarding fans by promising more updates and content for Relink soon.
Whether Relink can sustain momentum remains to be seen. But it has certainly staked its claim as an action-RPG contender amid an unusually crowded release slate. For Cygames, the strong early return confirms Granblue’s IP strength. Western publishers may want to pay more attention to this underrated jewel among Japan’s RPG greats.
