When we talk about games, The most common is to focus on the news. And it is normal that the latest releases, and especially those that have been long awaited, such as Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077, list two cases of recent games, one in which expectations have been more than reasonably met, and another in which an overdose of promises and necessity Adhering to an impossible deadline has resulted in one of the most memorable fiascoes of recent years.
However, although these games attract the attention of the whole world and tend to concentrate a huge number of players right after their introduction, when looking at the most played list, we find that in general, older titles continue to attract interest from much of the gaming community. Very consolidated titles that make new versions very difficult.
But that’s something we can’t blame for old titles, because the problem is really there there are a lot of new versions that won’t capture the community in the same way as others who add more years. Something that the developers can’t blame, at least in part, because there is no predetermined formula to ensure that the new game is successful.
Even worse, Some studies have found a safe formula when restoring their franchises, much more reliable than risking with new games. The clearest example of this is Nintendo, but it is also the case with other companies such as Electronic Arts. Whether it’s annual renewal franchises, such as the almighty FIFA, or sagas that are renewed every few years, such as Pokémon, low risk can be quite profitable.
Looking at the list of the ten most played games during the first quarter of 2022, we see that five of them are not from this decade. But it’s even worse, because when we exclude franchises, we see that there is not a single title that has the genesis of recent years. And yes, it is true that we are still in 2022, but the outlook in this regard is somewhat discouraging and reminds developers that they should once again bet on innovation, rather than on comfortable and safe formulas, whichwhich forces us to try something really new.
