The 20 most successful games of 2022 have something in common, and you will not like it at all: They all released more than two years ago – Minecraft

Video game developers are changing their way of acting and there are not a few who criticize this change of course. We almost get chills every time we hear how our favorite creators want to develop a game as a service. Yet it almost seems normal for companies to have that view. A recent report by the consulting firm Newzoo, specialized in video games, has revealed which have been the 20 most successful games (PC) of the past year based on the number of active users each month. The data revealed is devastating, although they also say things that are not so in favor of this type of title.

The 20 games with the most players on PC

The most striking thing about the report is that only one of the 20 most played games on PC during the year 2022 was released in the year 2022. “Older, free-to-play PC games like Roblox and Minecraft outperformed newer releases (…) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 it is the only title released in 2022 that managed to sneak into the top 20 monthly active users.” Taking all titles into account, The average age of these video games is 8 years.

The complete list is as follows…

It is true that we could argue about the release date Overwatch 2. However, it wouldn’t change things much either. Both the blizzard hero shooter and the new Warzone 2.0 were considered, by many players, as great updates more than brand new games. In any case, there are many interesting readings in the data. The clearest is that gaming as a service is the best way to earn long-term revenue, but it seems self-evident that the market is practically saturated.

Games as a service not only require a long-term commitment from developers, but also from their communities. Not all players are willing to quit Genshin Impact after having completed dozens of hours of their story or leaving an MMO hanging in which they have already progressed too much. There are not many reasons to leave either. CS:GO either Valorant looking for a new tactical shooter. Most games of this style include a component that retains players. Are you going to stop playing and lose your progress? Are you going to change your game if your friends don’t?

From newzoo They estimate that most developers will bet more than ever on games as a service, remasters and remakes. Only 52% of the total spending made by PC gamers corresponds to the direct sale of video games. On consoles the percentages are a little better. However, 38% of the money obtained by companies is through microtransactions, downloadable content or subscriptions.

It must be taken into account that the measurement system itself favors games as a service since the monthly active users of a title that can be completed in a few weeks will always decrease as people finish it or decide to abandon it. Despite this, even true ‘bombs’ like Cyberpunk 2077, which suffered an incredible popularity boom with the premiere of its anime, or Elden Ring cannot hold their own. However, the finger should not prevent us from seeing the moon. Even if it’s for a day How many big releases have surpassed the number of concurrent players on PC for Dota 2 or Counter-Strike? The number, we assure you, is not very high.

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