Skylanders series hits $500 million in US lifetime sales, 3rd best-selling UK franchise of all time

Skylanders - the toy-based game franchise from developer Toys For Bob and publisher Activision has amassed a whopping $500 million in US sales since the original game Spyro's Adventure launched in 2011.

It's weird you see? I've often seen a lot of gamers sneering at the Skylanders franchise, despite the fact it's pretty much been in the upper tier of the UK's top 40 chart week-in-week-out since I started on this site. As it happens it's been selling very well.

In a statement passed to VG247, UK score-keepers GfK Chart Track have announced that Skylanders is the 3rd best-selling game franchise in Britain to date, behind Call of Duty at first and FIFA at third.

The franchise has amassed $500 million in America alone since it began, and the second game in the series - Skylanders: Giants - has made $195 million in America since it launched last year. The figure covers sales of the actual game, accessories and toy packs.

John Coyne, VP of Consumer Marketing at Activision said of the stats, “Just a year ago, the concept of bringing toys to life in a virtual world was an untested play pattern that Activision and Toys For Bob believed in. Now the category has been established in the market and embraced by parents and kids everywhere.

“We’re humbled by the continued support and acclaim from parents, kids and critics alike, but more importantly, it’s gratifying to see kids excited about the adventures that await them both in the digital and physical worlds.”

Have you played Skylanders before? Do you enjoy it? Let us know below.