NetEase's upcoming third-person shooter, Once Human, boasts over 15 million global pre-registrations, a significant achievement highlighted by its Steam Next Fest success. However, a closer look reveals a key difference: while pre-registrations are high, only 300,000 represent Steam wishlists.
This disparity underscores the challenges of PC game discoverability compared to mobile. NetEase, known for its mobile-focused titles, is prioritizing a PC-first release for Once Human, indicating a strategic shift. Despite this, the game's popularity on Steam remains substantial, attracting the most demo players during Steam Next Fest.
The Mobile vs. PC Divide
NetEase's PC-focused approach isn't inherently flawed, but the figures highlight the significant difference in audience reach and discoverability between PC and mobile platforms. Even a large developer like NetEase faces a steeper climb to achieve comparable levels of popularity and visibility on PC.
While awaiting Once Human's release, consider exploring our curated lists of the best and most anticipated mobile games of 2024. These lists offer a selection of high-quality mobile titles to keep you entertained.
