The gaming industry is about providing gamers with the most immersive gaming experiences that push the medium forward artistically. Nevertheless, it cannot be forgotten that there are also economic pressures that influence which games get made and which remain mere ideas. Typically, developers save their biggest projects for the end of the year hoping that they can benefit from the holiday season, which has customers making more purchases than usual on Christmas Eve andBlack Friday. However, titles likeElden RingandHogwarts Legacyare illustrating that the February release window can also lead to astronomic sales.
Although February doesn’t fall within the gift-giving season, there are a few reasons why it may still be a good month to launch headlining games likeHogwarts Legacy. It falls after January, which typically has consumers focused on bills, so consumers are financially back on their feet again. Furthermore, by avoiding the holiday season, games sometimes allow themselves a greater spotlight.
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The Successful February Video Game Launches
In recent years, the gaming industry has seen a few games released in February break records.Elden Ring, released in 2022, was developed by FromSoftware. Games released by the studio usually sell well, butElden Ring’s sales numberssurprised even studio head Hidetaka Miyazaki. It was the bestselling game of February 2022 and had the second-best launch of any game in the US in the last 12 months, beaten only by the titanicCall of Dutyfranchise. By November, the game had sold 17.5 million units, easily making it the bestselling FromSoftware title to date.
Elden Ring’s performance was amazing, but it could have been easily written off as a fluke were it not for yet another game smashing records in February this year.Hogwarts Legacywas released on February 10. Despite launching on fewer consoles,Hogwarts Legacyhas managed to rip through many ofElden Ring’s records. TheHarry Pottergame managed to push 80% more physical copies thanElden Ringin its opening week, and its launch was 88% bigger in the UK. Some of this must be attributed to the fact thatHogwarts Legacy’s popularity is boosted by the world-famousHarry Potterfranchise which draws gamers and non-gamers alike. However, it is also worth remembering thatElden Ringwas promoted by George R. R. Martin, who is also an internationally-known author.
Is February a Magic Month For Video Games?
The fact that both games had famous authors behind them certainly helped their popularity. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t stop gamers from looking deeper into the month of February to see whether there is anything unique about it that may help boost video game sales. According to Statistica, the spending habits of gamers is quite seasonal, and it sees a sharp spike at the end of the year. This is likely due togaming-related gifts being bought for Christmasand people taking advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Many developers rush to have their games released within this window to benefit from the increased spending. The result of this is that the end of the year becomes a time packed with big releases, and it becomes easier for games to get lost in the crowd. Consequently, it could become advantageous for games to skip the holiday season and pick a less busy time. In doing so, the game would get more attention, and this could translate to higher sales. Of course, once developers catch on to this trick, it would result in February becoming crowded, and a new strategy would be necessary. It’s not uncommon forgaming trendsto take hold and then fall out of favor once they’ve served their purpose.
WhenHogwarts Legacy’s delay was announced, it seemed like the game was doomed. In hindsight, it now seems like it was a wise choice, as Avalanche Software was able to release a polished product that impressed the gaming world. The game’s success, along withElden Ring’s success in the previous year, could have more developers choosing to release their games in February when 2024 rolls around.
Hogwarts Legacyis available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4 and Xbox One ports are scheduled to release on April 4, and the Nintendo Switch version is arriving on July 25.
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