Part 8/12:
Contrary to the hype surrounding initial sales figures—over 4 million copies in the first three days—Druckmann downplayed the importance of sales numbers. He emphasized that for Naughty Dog, the goal isn't maximum profits but rather creating games that justify continued support from Sony. He admitted that initial sales spikes matter, but as sales decline sharply—dropping 85% in Japan and 80% in the UK—that focus diminishes, framing sales as fleeting metrics.
He clarified that the ultimate aim is for the game to earn enough to "let us do it again," rather than obsessing over sales figures. When the game’s popularity wanes and used copies flood the market, sales become less critical to the studio’s ongoing projects.