Once Human is a big hit at Steam Next Fest, but wishlists are a drop in the bucket

NetEase's upcoming third-person shooter, Once Human, has achieved remarkable success, boasting over 15 million pre-registrations globally. Its strong showing at Steam Next Fest further highlights its appeal. However, a closer look reveals a significant difference between its mobile and PC performance.

While the overall pre-registration numbers are impressive, only 300,000 of those are Steam wishlists. This disparity underscores the challenges faced by even established developers in achieving comparable levels of visibility and popularity on PC compared to mobile platforms. NetEase, known for its mobile game successes, is strategically prioritizing a PC-first release for Once Human, suggesting a calculated approach despite the inherent discoverability challenges on PC.

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The PC vs. Mobile Landscape

NetEase's focus on a PC audience is understandable, and not necessarily a negative strategy. However, the data clearly illustrates the vast difference in audience reach and discoverability between PC and mobile gaming markets. This highlights the considerable effort required for even large developers to replicate their mobile success on the PC platform.

In the meantime, while awaiting Once Human's release, explore our curated lists of the best and most anticipated mobile games of 2024. These lists offer a diverse selection of high-quality mobile titles to keep you entertained.