Topic: player engagement
-
Nearly Half of AAA Games Now Launch in Just 3 Months
Nearly half (45%) of major single-player AAA game releases now occur between mid-August and mid-November, creating intense competition during the traditional holiday season. Games released outside crowded windows show stronger engagement, suggesting that avoiding peak periods benefits both player...
Read More » -
Battlefield 6 Sells 6.5 Million Copies in Record Launch
Battlefield 6 achieved a massive launch with 6.5 million copies sold, generating $350 million in revenue and marking a strong comeback for the franchise. The game's audience is PC-dominated, with Steam accounting for over half of sales, and it has successfully retained high daily active user coun...
Read More » -
2025 Xbox Excellence Awards: Celebrating Gaming's Best
The 2025 Xbox Excellence Awards honor standout games based on community play, ratings, and engagement data across Xbox's entire platform ecosystem. Winners are selected in four data-driven categories: highest store ratings, greatest player engagement time, peak daily active users, and top units s...
Read More » -
Arc Raiders Dev Teases "Grander" New Maps for 2026
Embark Studios is planning a substantial 2026 content roadmap for Arc Raiders, focusing on cohesive updates with new maps, weapons, and enemies that feel like new chapters rather than isolated additions. Future maps will vary in scale to support different playstyles and introduce novel experience...
Read More » -
I'm Addicted to These Roguelike Games
The author is deeply addicted to roguelike games, captivated by their core loop of risk, reward, and rapid progression where each run presents a unique, choice-driven puzzle. A key satisfaction comes from transforming a weak character into a powerful force within a single session, through synergi...
Read More » -
Destiny 3 Reportedly in "Extremely Early Development" at Bungie
Destiny 3 is reportedly in extremely early development at Bungie, according to a reliable leaker, though it remains unconfirmed and could be years away from release. The Destiny community has expressed concern over the franchise's future, with player counts at record lows and mixed reactions to t...
Read More » -
Rematch Hits 5M Players in Just One Month
Sloclap's football game *Rematch* reached five million players in its first month, with the studio thanking fans for their support. The game's innovative 5v5 gameplay and third-person perspective challenge traditional football sims, focusing on precision and teamwork. *Rematch*'s success was fore...
Read More » -
Mewgenics Recoups 7-Year Dev Costs in Just 3 Hours
Mewgenics recouped its entire seven-year development budget in just three hours on Steam, demonstrating the power of its patiently cultivated cult following. The cat-breeding tactical game, after a long and uncertain development, launched to immediate commercial success, reaching the top of Steam...
Read More » -
Splitgate Devs: "Steam Charts Don't Measure Fun"
The developer of Splitgate: Arena Reloaded argues that Steam player counts are an incomplete metric for success, emphasizing the game's refined core gameplay and dedicated community over concurrent user statistics. Despite a recent relaunch, the game's peak concurrent players on Steam are signifi...
Read More » -
Ball x Pit: The Underrated Roguelike Pinball Game That's All I Need
**Ball x Pit** is an indie roguelike pinball hybrid that offers a compelling, chaotic gameplay loop centered on shooting bouncing balls at waves of enemies, with a focus on mastering angles and physics for strategic damage. The game features deep customization through creative ball combinations a...
Read More » -
The Outer Worlds 2 Gave Me What I Wanted - And I Hated It
The initial freedom of an unlimited inventory in *The Outer Worlds 2* felt liberating but ultimately led to a hollow, disengaged playstyle focused on hoarding rather than meaningful interaction with the game's systems. The removal of the traditional encumbrance system eliminated a key driver of p...
Read More » -
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is 2025's Biggest Game Pass Launch
**Clair Obscur: Expedition 33** is the largest third-party launch on Xbox Game Pass in 2025, driven by a record number of unique players in its first month. The game's success is attributed to its unique fusion of JRPG gameplay with French cultural inspirations and the crucial support from Xbox G...
Read More » -
Explore Derelict Ships in No Man's Sky's Breach Update
The Breach update introduces derelict ship exploration and salvaging for unique components, alongside a new expedition that pushes players to the edges of known space for exclusive rewards. Hello Games has refined ship-building mechanics in response to community feedback and continues to support ...
Read More » -
Arc Raiders Battle Pass 2: All Goalie Raider Rewards
The update introduces a permanent, free battle pass called the Goalie Raider Deck, offering new cosmetics and items without a premium purchase alongside new seasonal content. Progression is driven by completing daily Feats to earn Creds, a currency used to directly unlock specific rewards from th...
Read More » -
Planet & Green Jam 2025 Winners: TreesPlease, Wooga, Activision
Fifteen developers were honored at the Playing for the Planet Awards and Green Games Summit for their contributions to sustainable game development and pro-environmental storytelling, including Activision, Wooga, and TreesPlease Games. Awards were presented across multiple categories, with winner...
Read More » -
NetEase Revenue Hits $16.1 Billion in 2025, Up 6.9%
NetEase reported a 6.9% increase in total annual revenue to RMB 112.6 billion, driven primarily by a 10.1% growth in its core gaming segment. The company highlighted the strong performance of key titles like *Fantasy Westward Journey Online* and *Marvel Rivals*, and noted record revenue from mana...
Read More » -
Hyrule Warriors: Free Updates Coming Soon
Koei Tecmo is releasing two free updates for "Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment" to extend gameplay, with details and release dates to be announced for the Switch 2 platform. Players can currently unlock exclusive in-game items like the High Guard's Sword and Claymore by having save data from ...
Read More » -
Arc Raiders Sells 1.5 Million Copies on Steam in 3 Days
Arc Raiders sold over 1.5 million copies on Steam in its first three days, generating an estimated $60 million in revenue for Embark Studios. The game's launch exceeded expectations, causing server queues due to overwhelming player interest and requiring efforts to manage system overloads. Embark...
Read More » -
Fortnite Pets Arrive: Meet the Dance-Off Banana Puppy
Epic Games is introducing cosmetic companion pets called Sidekicks to Fortnite, allowing players to personalize their experience without affecting gameplay. The first Sidekick, Peels, will be available in the battle pass starting November 1st, with more companions and a feline option planned for ...
Read More » -
Indie Shooter Escape From Duckov Beats Battlefield 6 on Steam
Escape From Duckov, an indie shooter with duck-themed combat, has surpassed the blockbuster Battlefield 6 in concurrent players on Steam, highlighting how innovative gameplay can overcome large marketing budgets. Despite Battlefield 6's strong launch with over 747,000 players, Escape From Duckov ...
Read More » -
Todd Howard: Starfield Updates Continue, But It's Not "Starfield 2.0"
Todd Howard clarified that an upcoming Starfield update is not a major "2.0" overhaul, tempering expectations for players who did not initially connect with the game's core experience. The update will introduce "meta" changes focused on space mechanics and is arriving "soonish," but it is not the...
Read More » -
Inside NetEase: A Rare Studio Visit to A Sea of Remnants
Chinese developers like NetEase are strategically creating ambitious global titles, exemplified by the pirate RPG *Sea of Remnants*, which aims to build a lasting franchise beyond traditional in-game purchases. The game's development at NetEase's vast campus fosters a collaborative culture and fo...
Read More » -
Escape from Tarkov Launches Its First Major Crossover Event
Battlestate Games is launching a major crossover event between "Escape from Tarkov" and its parody spin-off *Escape from Duckov*, blending their distinct tones with new in-game content. Starting February 10th, *Escape from Duckov* will receive a *Tarkov*-inspired map, a mount system, and limited-...
Read More » -
Animal Crossing's 3.0 Update Arrives Early
The Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update launched early, surprising fans with its free content and improvements ahead of the official January 15th date. This major update adds key quality-of-life features like expanded home storage and multi-item crafting, alongside new content such as a hote...
Read More » -
Farewell, Halo Infinite: The End of an Era
Halo Infinite's active development has concluded with its final update, "Operation Infinite," ending the game's service after just over four years instead of the planned ten-year roadmap. The game revitalized the franchise with its open-world campaign and dynamic combat but faced criticism for mi...
Read More » -
Humble Bundle Founders Launch New Game Discovery Platform
Digiphile is a new digital marketplace launched by former Humble Bundle executives, focusing on community-driven curation and partnerships with creators and charities to reshape digital media discovery. The platform features limited-time collections curated with experts, includes The Digiphile Ex...
Read More » -
ARC Raiders Update: Player Count Soars, New High Scores Set
ARC Raiders has achieved a major surge in player engagement, consistently maintaining over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam and receiving critical acclaim with high review scores, including an 87 Metascore. A recent update, version 1.1.0, focused on stability and quality-of-life improvements b...
Read More » -
Ghost of Yotei Sales Match Ghost of Tsushima Success in Europe
Ghost of Yotei achieved a strong European launch, debuting at number two in sales charts, closely mirroring the success of its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima. The sequel's performance is notable given its release on the PS5, which has a smaller user base than the PS4, and without the pandemic-dri...
Read More » -
Fahy Studios Secures $1.75M to Launch Global Games from Saudi Arabia
Fahy Studios raised $1.75 million in funding to accelerate development of hybrid-casual mobile games from Saudi Arabia. The studio is actively developing titles including RAWR, Footy Traps, and Heist Party, focusing on engaging gameplay with depth. This investment supports Saudi Arabia's growing ...
Read More » -
Xbox Boss Praises PlayStation, Hints at Halo on PS5
Microsoft successfully expanded its gaming strategy in 2025 by releasing major Xbox titles on PlayStation 5, boosting sales and altering traditional console exclusivity. The company plans to bring iconic franchises like Halo to PS5, with a simultaneous 2026 launch for a remake, aiming to reach th...
Read More » -
Microsoft to Launch Free, Ad-Supported Xbox Cloud Gaming with Monthly Limits
Microsoft is developing a free, ad-supported version of Xbox Cloud Gaming that will not require a Game Pass subscription, allowing access on various devices with ads before sessions and potential playtime limits. This follows a price increase for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $29.99, justified by ex...
Read More » -
Rayman's 30th Anniversary Edition Marks Series Comeback, More News Soon
Ubisoft's CEO has declared the recent "Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition" as the first step in a major franchise revival, with more announcements planned soon. The series has been largely dormant since "Rayman Legends" over a decade ago, making this compilation a strategic shift to reintroduce the...
Read More » -
Tim Sweeney confronts Arc Raiders AI controversy
Eurogamer's critical review of Arc Raiders, focusing on its AI-generated voices, sparked a major online debate and a defense from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who sees AI combined with human creativity as transformative for gaming. Sweeney argued that views on AI are political and productivity-enh...
Read More » -
Gaming World Reacts to GTA 6 Delay
Grand Theft Auto VI's release has been delayed from May to November 19, 2026, prompting industry-wide adjustments to launch strategies and console sales expectations. Publishers are likely to reschedule their 2026 titles to avoid competing with GTA 6, potentially moving games from the crowded hol...
Read More » -
Destiny 2 Leak Reveals 4 New Characters, Including Familiar Hunter
Destiny Rising's successful mobile launch has surpassed two million downloads and generated over $9 million in revenue within its first twenty days, alongside the addition of new characters. A data leak revealed four upcoming characters—Helhest, Maru, Rossi-11, and Jaren Ward—with details on thei...
Read More » -
Xbox Gamers Play More: The Surprising Reason Why
Xbox users, influenced by Xbox Game Pass, engage with a wider variety of games, averaging nearly six different titles in August 2025, compared to fewer on PS5 and Steam. Despite playing more games, Xbox users spend fewer total hours gaming on average than PS5 or Steam players, indicating a patter...
Read More » -
Peak's Developers Created the Game Out of Jealousy
"Peak", a cooperative climbing game, achieved massive success with over one million sales in under a week and became a top-streamed game, developed collaboratively by Aggro Crab and Landfall in a month-long sprint. The game’s inspiration came from Aggro Crab’s envy of Landfall’s rapid developme...
Read More » -
Steam Hit Recoups 7-Year Dev Budget in 3 Hours
Mewgenics, a long-awaited indie roguelike, recouped its entire seven-year development budget within just three hours of its Steam launch, highlighting the market's support for dedicated creative projects. Disney's leadership suggests future premieres or bookings could occur within platforms like ...
Read More » -
Destiny 2's 'Renegades' Launches a Bizarre Star Wars Crossover
Destiny 2's 'Renegades' expansion is an officially licensed crossover with Star Wars, integrating its themes and iconography into the game's own canonical universe rather than directly importing characters or locations. The expansion is filled with meticulous visual and auditory parallels, includ...
Read More » -
Loulan: The Cursed Sand Is a Must-Play PS5 Exclusive
Loulan: The Cursed Sand is an upcoming PS5-exclusive isometric action game developed by ChillyMoon with Sony's support, targeting fans of classic God of War games. The game features a tragic romance story where players control a skeletal warrior with sand-based abilities for combat, puzzle-solvin...
Read More » -
Pitchford: More Devs Need to Understand Loot's Appeal for Better Borderlands Rivals
Randy Pitchford believes the looter shooter genre lacks strong competition because rivals fail to grasp the appeal of loot-driven decision-making, which involves constant gear evaluation and strategic choices. He attributes Borderlands' success to its design that stimulates cognitive engagement t...
Read More » -
Fortnite Fans Protest AI-Generated Images In-Game
Fortnite players are protesting the use of AI-generated artwork for in-game assets, citing anatomical errors and arguing it reflects corporate prioritization of efficiency over artistic integrity. Critics oppose the practice due to ethical concerns, including the unauthorized training of AI on ar...
Read More » -
Cyberpunk 2077 Sells 35 Million Copies Worldwide
Cyberpunk 2077 has sold over 35 million copies globally in five years, surpassing The Witcher 3's sales pace and marking a major commercial success for CD Projekt. The game and its Phantom Liberty expansion are the primary revenue drivers, contributing 72.4% of the company's sales in the third qu...
Read More » -
Destiny 2's Renegade Launch Is a Franchise Low
Destiny 2's "Renegades" expansion has set a new record low for concurrent players at launch, with a peak of just over 71,000 on Steam, far below previous major releases. The expansion's appeal is seen as niche by a vocal part of the community, with critics arguing it primarily caters to dedicated...
Read More » -
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond amiibo Rewards Revealed
Amiibo figures provide in-game bonuses for *Metroid Prime 4: Beyond*, including cosmetic changes and gameplay enhancements, with three new figures launching alongside the game. The new Samus amiibo unlocks a music player and a daily shield bonus, while the Samus & Vi-O-La amiibo allows color cust...
Read More »