When Neversoft launched the original Tony Hawk Pro Skater in 1999, the franchise became an instant hit and a perennial blockbuster. After six solid years of sales, the franchise stumbled with 2005's American Wasteland. Three disappointing years later, Activision hoped to reboot the series with its high-tech skateboard peripheral in 2009's Ride, but the game was a critical dud and commercial disappointment.
Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz (registration required), market research firm Cowen and Company revealed things went from bad to worse with Robomodo's second plastic skateboard game, Shred. Much, much worse. From its launch on October 26 through October 31 the game sold roughly 3,000 units in the U.S.
By comparison, Cowen and Company also provided sales stats on DJ Hero 2. The second turntable title from Activision was labeled a disappointed in its first two weeks on the shelves with less than 60,000 units sold. If 60,000 is a disappointment, 3,000 is embarrassing.
After wrapping up Shred in mid-October, Robomodo confirmed it was hit by layoffs, and the developer said it was unlikely the studio would work on another Tony Hawk game. Now that appears to be a certainty, and it's quite possible the entire franchise will be laid to rest.
Sharkey says: According to VG Chartz, Ride sold nearly 1.75 million copies worldwide. That's a lot of people with plastic skateboards. That only 3,000 of them would be interested in hopping back on for Shred -- at least during its first six days on the shelves -- is remarkable. I don't think we'll be seeing another Tony Hawk game for a few years. 
