Dwarf Fortress, the popular colony simulation game, is close to reaching one million copies sold for its premium version. After being a free-to-play game with text-based graphics for almost twenty years, Bay 12 Games launched a premium version of Dwarf Fortress in late 2022, featuring updated graphics and other improvements. This commercial release has been very successful, with over 500,000 copies sold as of March 2023.
Creators Tarn and Zach Adams shared in a recent interview with PC Gamer that the game’s sales have continued to rise, reaching 800,000 copies. Furthermore, Dwarf Fortress has earned a spot on over one million Steam wishlists. The creators hope the upcoming Adventure Mode update will further boost sales, potentially nearing the million mark.
On April 17th, 2024, an update is set to launch, integrating popular roguelike RPG elements from the original free version into the premium release. Additionally, this marks the creators’ first direct communication with their extensive wishlist audience, potentially sparking increased interest and sales.
“We’re thinking of it like an update,” says Tarn, “It’s not Baldur’s Gate 3 or whatever… It’s just a gentle update. But it’s also the first time we’re communicating with our wishlist people ever. We have not emailed them [before] or anything. That’s crazy, because there’s over a million of them.”
Tarn Adams
I was one of the skeptics of the game when it was released in its new form. I was an editor for a team that covered the game and was sold by the graphics and the freedom the game offered. It’s a great game, but definitely not for those who need a lot of help when they play a game. It’s clear to see it appeals to those who really want the trial and error that comes with realistic simulations.
Despite their newfound wealth, Tarn and Zach Adams continue to focus on improving Dwarf Fortress. They plan to celebrate or go on a trip once they reach a million copies sold. Tarn values the financial security their success has brought, while Zach has bought a house and his dream car, a Honda Civic. However, their main focus remains on making Dwarf Fortress better.
When it reaches a million in sales, we’re likely to see more people enter the game than before, based on what the interview mentions. However, we’ll have to wait and see.
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