Anticipated Changes in the US Video Game Market after 15 Years
Possible improved description: An unprecedented shift in the US video game sales landscape looms as the reign of Call of Duty and Rockstar titles as No 1 contenders since 2009 faces a potential challenge in 2023
Since 2009, a Call of Duty game or the latest Rockstar Games release has been the top-selling title in the United States. But in 2023, this streak might be broken.
Hogwarts Legacy continues to hold the top spot as the best-selling game of 2023 in the US. According to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it is "definitely possible" for the game to end the year on top, surpassing Modern Warfare III.
Hogwarts Legacy was released in February, giving it a significant head start over Modern Warfare III, which arrived in November. According to Piscatella's comments to IGN, Modern Warfare III's sales are lagging behind those of its predecessor, Modern Warfare II, during a similar time frame on the market. Additionally, Modern Warfare III received lower reviews compared to its predecessor and previous games in the series, although the impact of these critical reviews on sales remains uncertain.
Despite various circumstances, Modern Warfare III is performing well commercially. In November, it was the top-selling game in the US, and after just a month on the market, it became the second best-selling game of 2023. It's worth noting that Modern Warfare III achieved this ranking after only 15 days on the market, as Circana's tracking period for November only goes up to November 25th.
Adding to the success of Hogwarts Legacy is its recent release on the Nintendo Switch, where it is achieving strong sales numbers. In November, Hogwarts Legacy was the second best-selling Switch game in the US, with only Nintendo's own Super Mario Bros. Wonder outselling it.
After the immense success of Hogwarts Legacy, fans are eagerly anticipating a sequel, although it has not been officially confirmed. However, there is confirmation of a Quidditch game in development called Quidditch Champions. Notably, author J.K. Rowling is not involved with Hogwarts Legacy. Readers can refer to Our Website's article on her comments about sexual identity and gender for further context. For additional sales data, you can find the top 20 best-selling games in the US for November 2023 and the top 20 best-selling games of 2023 thus far.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I'm excited about the potential shift in the US video game market. The dominance of Call of Duty and Rockstar titles has been a bit stale, and it's refreshing to see a new game like Hogwarts Legacy take the top spot. I'm a big fan of the Harry Potter universe, and I think the game has done an excellent job of capturing the magic and wonder of the books and movies. I'm also impressed with the game's sales performance, especially considering that it was released in February and has managed to stay at the top of the charts for so long.
However, I'm a bit concerned about the impact that Hogwarts Legacy's success might have on the industry. If games based on popular franchises continue to dominate the market, it could make it harder for smaller, more innovative games to get noticed. I think it's important for gamers to support a variety of games, both big and small, to ensure that the industry remains diverse and vibrant. Overall, I'm optimistic about the future of the US video game market. The success of Hogwarts Legacy shows that there is a demand for new and exciting games, and I'm excited to see what the future holds.
