Mega Man is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. He made his debut back in 1987 and has been a fan favorite ever since. Over 130 titles have been released in the series, but there has not been much as of late. Mega Man 11, released on all major platforms, was the last game in the main series, and it was released all the way back in 2018. Because of this, sales numbers on the franchise have been low. However, Mega Man 11 just crossed two million sales, making it the best-selling game in series history.
Mega Man 11 Crosses Two Million Sales
Despite the legacy of the character, the sales numbers on the games have not always been great. There are many reasons for this. 130 titles is a daunting task for even hardcore gamers. In July of 2024, an article pointed out it would take almost 400 hours to simply beat the main storyline of every title in the series. If you are a completionist, that number balloons to almost 1,000. With so many titles, some games were developed in record time, hurting the quality. However, fans clearly love the eleventh installment in the main series from 2018.
Capcom released new sales numbers, and a savvy fan pointed out that Mega Man 11 crossed the two million sales mark. This makes it the best-selling game in franchise history. In the whole company, it is the 65th best-selling game, just ahead of Super Street Fighter II and just behind Capcom Arcade Second Stadium. The next closest title featuring the Blue Bomber is the Legacy Collection, which sold about 1.6 million copies. It is interesting that despite being such a popular character, he is not one of the best-selling games for the company.
What’s Next For The Character?
Back in 2023, one investor asked on the Capcom earnings call what the plan was for the character moving forward. The company gave the following response.
“Including Mega Man 11, the latest entry in the franchise, Mega Man is one of Capcom’s historic IPs and is loved by fans, and as such we want to take care in how we develop the series. We are considering how to approach the production of new entries in the series, which requires numerous factors, including the development of a solid concept, ideas and gameplay, etc.”
They want to take great care with the next installment in the franchise. On the one hand, this should be applauded. Instead of cranking out a game simply to satiate fans, they are making sure the next iteration is a smash hit. However, there is a balance. Waiting too long frustrates fans and risks not introducing a generation of gamers to the character. Capcom has tried to keep the character relevant by inserting him in cameo roles in other games. While this is a good strategy, there’s something different about a new title and not just a cameo appearance.
Final Thoughts
Fans are as loyal as ever to Mega Man. He continues to be a character gamers love. Countless streamers continue to play the games for huge audiences. With some next-gen consoles starting to be announced, it will be interesting to see if Capcom decides to push forward with another game. Will 2025 be the year we get an announcement, or will fans be left waiting a little longer for the next installment?
