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Which was the best selling franchise in 2014 – Disney Infinity or Skylanders? That all depends on who you ask.
GameSpot reports that Disney cites NPD data in claiming that its Disney Infinity IP was the stronger of the two, with November/December sales up 16 per cent year-on-year and its market share up from 43 per cent to 47 per cent.
Crucially, it also claims to have outsold its competitor both in terms of total revenue and starter pack sales.
However, on the other side of the fence Activision cites NPD, GfK, and Activision internal estimates” in saying that its brand led the toys to life category 2014 for the third consecutive year.
"Skylanders continues its leadership position as the No.1 kids video game franchise globally as well as in the US by wide margins,” CEO Eric Hirshberg said. As a global franchise in 2014, Skylanders is 30 per cent bigger than its nearest competitor. And Skylanders Trap Team outsold its nearest competitor globally by 17%.
As the creators of the ‘toys-to-life’ category, we are thrilled to continue to lead it for the third consecutive year."
Skylanders debuted in 2011 with the release of Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. It wasn’t until two years later that Disney entered the scene with Disney Infinity, drawing on a host of recognisable IP such as Monsters Inc, Toy Story, The Incredibles and Pirates of the Caribbean.
There have been hints, too, that Star Wars may join the fray for the next game. Activision has yet to reveal what title will follow on from last year’s Skylanders: Trap Team.
