'Overwatch': Future Looking Bright For Blizzard's Latest IP After Big First Week Sales

If there was any doubt as to whether or not there’s a bright future for Overwatch , the first new IP from Blizzard in nearly two decades, the first round of sales figures and player statistics should drive home just how thoroughly some fans are enjoying Overwatch . And we’re not just talking about all the people trying to find Overwatch clips on Pornhub either.

More than seven million people played Overwatch during its first week on the market, Blizzard announced on Thursday afternoon, and that’s just the start of some truly staggering figures from the game’s launch week. According to Blizzard, more than 11 million payloads have already been delivered by the Overwatch community and heroes have been swapped a whopping 326 million times. Most impressively, players spent more than 119 million hours with Overwatch during opening week. That’s an average of 17 hours per player!

There’s no word on exactly how much revenue the game has generated. The game is available in several different price points, including a $130 Collector’s Edition , and purchasable loot boxes have proven to be especially popular with the Overwatch community. But even modest estimates, based on the current player count, would suggest Blizzard’s latest shooter generated tens (if not hundreds) of millions of dollars in revenue during its first seven days on the market.

Sadly, Blizzard’s victory lap also didn’t include an update on how the studio plans to capitalize on Overwatch ’s current momentum. Blizzard has previously confirmed plans to release a variety of free content, including new heroes, maps and skins, but even the game’s massive success has prompted the company to share any additional information on its immediate (or long-term) plans for supporting Overwatch . On the flip side, given the numbers Blizzard is currently touting, we shouldn’t have to worry about the game being abandoned within a few months of launch.

Be sure to check back with iDigitalTimes.com and follow Scott on Twitter for additional Overwatch coverage throughout 2016 and for as long as Blizzard supports Overwatch in the coming months.