Wuthering Waves has solidified its status as a worldwide hit. Despite multiple compensations and free rewards, the game reportedly generated a whopping $42 million in first-week revenue.
Mobile and PC gamers united on May 22, 2024, during Wuthering Waves’ much-awaited release. With over 30 million pre-registered players worldwide, the gaming community was eager to see if Kuro Games could keep the momentum on their newest title.
While Wuthering Waves garnered mixed reviews, with many praising its innovative combat style and some criticizing voice acting and storyline, one thing stood steadfast upon its release—Wuthering Waves is no temporary hype. According to GameLook, Kuro Games earned nearly $42 million USD less than a week after its release.
The Chinese game news site reports that the multi-platform game was a massive success in the country, raking in over 300 Million Chinese Yuan in the first five days.
This is an astonishing feat, especially considering the multiple compensation and in-game rewards Wuthering Waves issued due to bugs and lag concerns upon the game’s first release. The devs even granted all players a 5-star character (Resonator) on top of Lustrous Tides.
In perspective, similar titles like Tower of Fantasy earned $34 million USD during its first two weeks, while Honkai: Star Rail took home $32 million in its first six days.
This is far from being Wuthering Waves’ most impressive number, as the community only expects the revenue to grow more as the following character banner approaches. While the first five-star banner, Jiyan, is an S–tier DPS, many Wuthering Waves fans have been in the “Yinlin waiting room” since her first teasers were released.
Wuthering Waves fans were pleased to see the game’s financial success despite being “free to play friendly,” with some players throwing shade over direct competitor, Genshin Impact, and its notorious anniversary rewards issue.
We have all yet to see if Wuthering Waves can translate its early success into a momentum that stands the test of time.
Personally, the game’s immersive combat and ingenuous mechanics are surely worth sticking around for. And given how generous the devs were with the “apologems” upon initial critique, figures behind Kuro Games would surely be worth supporting.