Beat Games, the Czech Republic-based indie developers behind Beat Saber (2018), announced they’ve sold over one million copies of their popular block-slashing rhythm game—a figure calculated across all supported VR platforms.

Beat Games CEO Jaroslav Beck announced the news in a video blog, saying he optimistically expected the game to reach 150,000 copies before its release, a number three times larger than the team’s pre-launch estimation.

“What happened, nobody could have ever predicted. Even guys from the industry who we spoke with [including advisers and long-time industry professionals] told us we’re freaks if you think we can get this number,” said Beck.

Speaking to Variety, Beck further said Beat Saber’s success wasn’t the result of a prolonged PR campaign, attributing its popularity to word-of-mouth.

“We did zero PR whatsoever,” Beck told Variety. “We didn’t expect that it would blow up that crazy.”

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The one million figure includes consumer sales only, the studio confirmed with Road to VR, and not sales from location-based facilities. Beat Saber is available on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows VR headsets (early access), and on PSVR.

We haven’t heard specific numbers from other VR developers for comparison, although it’s possible Beat Saber could be the first VR game to reach the one million sales mark.

Notably, Beat Saber was ranked the second most downloaded PSVR game of 2018, vaulting to the slot within only one month before the close of the year. It’s also been featured in a bespoke PSVR hardware bundle with Borderlands 2 VR (2018).

The announcement came alongside the studio’s recent release of Beat Saber’s first paid DLC music pack, dubbed ‘Monstercat Music Pack 1,” which adds 10 EDM songs to the game across all platforms.

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Scott Hayden
Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 3,500 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • Jistuce

    In before someone complains about Beat Saber or mentions mods!

  • Nathan Benkhe

    I definitely think this is the best VR game. I’m late to the game. Owned a Vive for a couple years now and only bought beat sabre a month ago. Only bought it because a friend wanted to try it and now its my favorite game without a doubt. Anybody else judging that “it doesn’t look like its THAT fun” based on videos do yourself a favor and just buy it!

    • Raphael

      I definitely think it’s nonsense to declare one game the best… You could say it’s the best within it’s genre but declaring it the best is like declaring one movie the greatest movie ever ignoring genre.

      I find it hard getting into this game because it’s a bit too simple.

      Nothing wrong with you declaring this your favorite game but there are so many great VR games now. I love DCS World… I wouldn’t declare it the best VR game. There are so many great games.

      “Beatsaber is the best music rhythm game” is a more rational statement.

      • DanDei

        This is objectively the best VR game and you must accept that you are wrong. Our praise of Beat Saber obviously means that there can’t be a better game, not even for fans of different genres. Something must be seriously wrong with you.

        • Raphael

          You’ve been writing for TheOnion again haven’t you.

          • Firestorm185

            meanwhile I’m here to complain that road didn’t report on this first, and the other VR news site is getting ahead of them. xD Still love you guys at Road, but seems like it’s been Upload’s month! XD

        • Emmet Cromie North

          We haven’t heard specific numbers from other VR developers for comparison, although it’s possible Beat Saber could be the first VR game to reach the one million sales mark.

          • Get Schwifty!

            Good question, I kind of think it might be, unless some title on PSVR has had it already, but I don’t recall one. VR definitely needs some “buzz worthy” titles in the mainstream.

      • Downvote King

        “Best game” is a subjective statement though isn’t it? When someone says that they’re basically saying it’s their favorite game, which he did also say. Can someone’s personal preference really be argued against?

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      • gothicvillas

        well…. you like it or not, but cosnidering the adoption levels, I think it could be valid statement to say Beat Saber is the best VR game so far

        • Raphael

          See now… this is what I find disturbing about people… The need to declare something the best without thinking about whether it makes any sense.

          How about I declare Frank Herbert’s Dune the best book ever?

          Your criteria ignores everything but quantity so it’s a childishly simple argument…

          So what’s the world’s number one selling book? The Bible. So you think the Bible is the greatest book ever? In what respect? Oh… purely because it’s sold more than any other book. Oh but wait… you’re saying the bible is the greatest book because of sales and…… what else? Story? Dialog? Philosophy?

          So tell me what the greatest movie is? Do a search for the movie with greatest box office sales…

          So you’re saying that movie is the best movie ever? Really? Irrespective of genre? Genre doesn’t matter?

          “Beat Saber is the best VR game so far” << Statement is nonsensical and illogical.

          Now if you want to add some actual intelligent statements to clarify why it's the greatest game?

          • gothicvillas

            you ok bro?

          • Raphael

            I just got a speeding ticket in my toy car. In a bad mood.

          • Get Schwifty!

            I just blocked him eventually and I prefer not to unless someone really warrants it. While he makes a few points that hold the vast majority are just him/her talking from a purely contrarian “I know best” standpoint without real dialog, its just not constructive.

    • Get Schwifty!

      It definitely is from a broad awareness perspective, and while I have yet to try it, even people you wouldn’t expect are playing it, that is great for VR awareness and what it needs. Is it the height of VR use and gamer interaction? No, but then again when the sea of casual users gets into something it creates more opportunities for the more hard core. It might well be the first breakthrough title, what Arizona Sunshine was for the early adopter community two years ago.

  • Mateusz Pawluczuk

    Well deserved :) Can we say Killer App?

  • Raphael

    Praise kermit!! He watches us all especially at night through open curtains.

    :)

  • Get Schwifty!

    And that’s the point, its relative :)