The Just Dance franchise has sold more than 25 million units worldwide, publisher Ubisoft announced today. That is a huge success for the dancing game series, and demonstrates the continuing demand for more casual games on home video game consoles.
The latest entry in the series of music rhythm games, Just Dance 3, has sold more than 7 million copies since its release in October and has consistently been in the top five on video game sales charts in both the U.S. and Europe, according to Ubisoft’s internal estimates. Two Just Dance titles finished in the overall U.S. top ten sales chart for 2011, with Just Dance 2 at number 9 and Just Dance 3 at number 2. The overall best selling game of the year was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. According to NPD, the dance genre, driven largely by Just Dance sales, grew 66% over the previous year.
The franchise is available on all three gaming consoles — Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii — and Geoffroy Sardin, chief EMEA sales and marketing officer at Ubisoft, says this variety has helped lead to its success. “Our diverse dance game offerings ensure that everyone can find an accessible and enjoyable title regardless of platform, and that we have a broad base upon which to bring new ideas and titles in the years to come,” he said.
Ubisoft says a collective 23 million minutes a day have been spent striking a pose in Just Dance 3. Many of those minutes have no doubt been contributed by 24-year-old Elizabeth “Kitty McScratch” Bolinger (pictured below), who recently made it into the Guinness World Records 2012 Gamer’s Edition as the “Most Prolific Dancing Game High Scorer.” Bolinger has more than 85 number one high scores in the Just Dance and Dance Central franchises. She says her favorite songs to dance to include “Hot and Cold” by Katy Perry, where she’s scored over 16,000 points blindfolded, and “Bullet Proof” by La Roux.
