The Division earned $109M from digital game sales in March

The Division might have to fight an outbreak in New York City, but it doesn’t have a recruiting problem.

Research group SuperData released info on digital game sales in March, and Ubisoft’s online shooter took first place from all digital console games by making $109 million. The month saw a 5 percent increase over the same period last year. The Division was also the best-selling game in traditional stores in March.

Ubisoft must be pleased with the online MMO shooter’s success.

“Excitement pushed sales [of The Division] to over $109 million, making Tom Clancy’s The Division the highest grossing digital console title in March, $48 million ahead of runner-up Call of Duty: Black Ops III,” SuperData noted. “Black Ops III’s 17 percent month-over-month revenue decrease means The Division siphoned off attention and spending from Call of Duty fans. Black Ops III is not the only digital console title to see a significant decrease, Madden NFL fell to 10th place from the top 5 with revenue decreasing 31 percent month-over-month. NFL postseason excitement has clearly worn off.”

Of course, The Division also spent more money than any other game in ads for March. The marketing effort paid off.

Digital game downloads are becoming more attractive to consumers of console games, since the convenience of buying and downloading a product from home often trumps the hassle of picking one up from a store. Ten years ago, buying media digitally was a novelty, but now a whole generation is used to getting everything from phone apps to music and books online.