Girls' Frontline 2 Launch Revenue Exposed & Mocked: Ad Spend Exceeds Genshin Impact but Revenue Can't Even Beat a Dead Game

Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium (少前2：追放) has finally had its launch revenue data exposed — and the results are so bad that Yu Zhong's infamous 'post-holiday surge' (节后涨) theory has been 'proven' in the most ironic way possible: when you're already at rock bottom, the only direction is up, right?

The OP posted estimated revenue figures alongside two devastating comparison points: Neural Cloud (云图计划), another Sunborn game, and the infamous God Eater (解神者) — a gacha game with zero brand recognition that imploded spectacularly at launch due to toxic controversies.

The numbers are brutal: despite having a legacy IP with loyal 'crystallized fans' (结晶粉, players who whale regardless of controversy) and dedicated character simps, GFL2's revenue still couldn't even triple that of God Eater — a game with literally zero brand equity. The OP roasted: 'Looks like your crystallization process wasn't very pure, Yu Zhong. Maybe your diehards can't actually afford to whale?'

The community reaction was a tidal wave of mockery and schadenfreude. One player gawked: 'A gacha THIS controversial still pulled $800K? Mobile gaming money really is easy money,' triggering a flood of agreement. Someone shot back: 'Can't help it, degenerates are easy marks.jpg'. The real kicker was the ad spend revelation — multiple users pointed out that GFL2's marketing budget actually exceeded Genshin Impact's. 'Give him a break, his ad spend literally beats Genshin,' one quipped, dripping with sarcasm.

Even more painful was the comparison with Sunborn's other game. When someone asked 'How's Neural Cloud doing these days?', the answer was 'Dead beyond dead (寄中寄) — they pulled a big move for their anniversary AND a collab event, and it still flopped.' Two games, same publisher, same downward spiral.

The data sparked deeper soul-searching in the community. One player argued that the revenue collapse proves controversies hit way harder than people assume: 'Some dramas aren't as niche as you think. Sure, everyone talks about the 'silent majority,' but silent doesn't mean dead.' Another nailed the core issue: 'Gacha games fundamentally sell characters. If people cared about gameplay, they'd play XCOM. Mobile-only players checking review scores would pick competitors with better reputations and less drama. And Sunborn went out of its way to alienate its own OG fanbase from Girls' Frontline 1 — if a game like this doesn't die, what does?'

The 'already at rock bottom' copium was met with savage pushback: 'Rock bottom? You mean the mountaintop!' Others went full meme mode: 'Everything will be fine once Type 95 launches her attack' — a riff on the classic WWII meme. As for the 'post-holiday surge theory,' one user mourned: 'I'm literally crying. To validate his own crackpot 'surge after the holidays' theory, Yu Zhong actually sacrificed the entirety of GFL2. What a legend.'

Worth noting: GFL2 launched with a beta refund system (公测返利) where money spent during testing gets returned at launch — meaning a chunk of that revenue is recycled cash, not fresh spending. Someone pointedly observed: 'This is WITH beta refunds. If the first limited banner actually goes big, it would mean the diehards really are loaded.' Spoiler: that didn't happen.

In the end, GFL2's disastrous launch taught the entire gacha industry a lesson: IP alone isn't enough, ad spend alone isn't enough, and torching your own loyal fanbase is the ultimate cardinal sin. As for the 'post-holiday surge'... well, when you're at rock bottom, the only way is up. Probably. Maybe. Copium.