160°

Why The Praise For The Yearly Sales Award For Hogwarts Legacy Over MWIII Lacks Much Needed Context

Recently there were several postings online and on Social Media touting how Hogwarts Legacy outsold Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and how this was a rare instance of a title beating that franchise in yearly sales. In a new Opinion Piece the question of if having a ten-month advantage in the release window and other factors should have been factored in.

GhostScholar106d ago (Edited 106d ago )

If anyone thinks mw3 is better than hogworts they don’t like video games, they just like call of duty.

Garethvk106d ago

This has nothing to do with better. It has to do with a game that was on the market for over 10 months being praised for outselling a game that was out a few weeks and how end of year sales don't show the full picture.

Eonjay106d ago

That's a very particular argument. Let me explain... let's say GTA6 comes out on 12/25 and that years Call of Duty comes out 2 months before hand. Let's also say that Call of Duty sells more in 2025 than GTA6 can sell in those 6 days. Well it doesn't matter that GTA will outsell COD eventually or will even be the top selling game of 2026-2030. COD is still the top selling game of 2025. Period. In actuality lol.

notachance106d ago

and yet with your so-called short holiday release window the only games to ever beat CoD in 14 years were GTA V and RDR 2, now that Hogwarts Legacy has done the same there’s no need to downplay what an achievement it was.

jambola105d ago

What a stupid thing to say

Eonjay106d ago

Too much spin. It's an objective acknowledgement of what sold the most in a 12 month period. Nothing more or nothing less.

Garethvk106d ago

As it should be. WB and media has been running off about what an accomplishment it was to outsell COD. They had a ten month advantage.

Eonjay106d ago

Last year Elden Ring sold very well and even though it had a 10 month advantage it did not outsell MW2. It's just the way it is. But, correct me if I'm wrong, your tone seems dismissive. I think they should be very proud of their success. You think they should be more reserved? Did I misunderstand?

shinoff2183106d ago

Cod outsells everyone every year in a short few months span. Every year. So to beat it is impressive. Are you the writer. No reason to be a cod apologists. Just go play your dlc

Garethvk106d ago

I am just saying there is little room to boast about outselling a game for 23 that only had a few weeks on the market when you had 10 months of lead.

shinoff2183106d ago (Edited 106d ago )

Hogwarts for me is alright in doses. I liked it but I can play it straight though like a dq11 or ff. It's solid though. It's flat-out out the better game when comparing it to cod. Period. It was refreshing something different. Where as mw3 is DLC

Far as sales. Yes it is still damn impressive seeing as cod is the best selling game every year releasing at Christmas. So it's window is the Sam every year. Idc how long the game was on the market l, neither should you, and neither do the devs. It's impressive to beat it.

Sounds like whoever wrote this is a tab bit butthurt about it though. Just let it be.

Garethvk106d ago

Hardly. Can you honestly say a 10 month lead is fair to compare one that was out only a few weeks? It does not matter who the bigger franchise is as if they were both released at the same time it is pretty clear which one would have the best sales. I am saying the data to determine best sales for a year is seriously flawed as time on market is not considered..

DMgHalt106d ago

Hogwarts Legacy and COD3 are, all together, two very different types of games. Why would it matter to compare the two?

Garethvk106d ago

The games are not being compared. What is being compared is the unbalanced sales metrics used to chart yearly game salea as it does not factor in release dates. It should be over a twelve month period versus the end of year.

Ironmike106d ago

I personally hated hogwarts got boring quick

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90°

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Season 3 Patch Notes

Reload your Season 3 experience of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III with today’s update!

The Season 3 Reloaded game update will roll out this morning across all platforms. While you wait, take some time to read the Patch Notes for a comprehensive list of gameplay improvements, weapon balance, new features, and bug fixes you can expect when you play.

Read Full Story >>
callofduty.com
purple1016d ago

The game is now broken and displays “dev error 5433” and won’t start a multiplayer match

FFs

170°

Was Hogwarts Legacy Only Successful Because Of Nostalgia?

Shahmeer from eXputer: "I've always wondered whether the success of Hogwarts Legacy had much to do with nostalgia. The RPG is great but certainly not free of issues."

Markdn6d ago

I totally agree, and no replay value for sure but enjoyed every minute I was playing it. Not a Harry Potter fan but still really enjoyed

Lexreborn27d ago

I still haven’t finished it, mostly due to it not holding my interest after 20 hours. Wouldn’t say it’s a bad game, wouldn’t say it’s amazing I really can’t judge it fully due to not completing it.

Lexreborn26d ago

lol are people upset because I said I put 20 hours into the game and that because I haven’t finished I won’t criticize it’s value or if nostalgia generates it’s success? That’s funny

CrimsonWing697d ago

Harry Potter is one of the biggest IPs in the world. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why it sold so much. It’s a great game on top of that, so the math kind of maths here.

Can’t wait for the article on if Zelda or Mario only sold well due to nostalgia.

Crows906d ago

They're trying to find a fake reason for its success...the mainstream hate how successful it became because of the writer behind the series.

So now they want to say that people bought it not because they liked it but only because of nostalgia....as if harry potter is really that old or even a classic IP in the game industry.

thorstein6d ago

That doesn't even make any sense. The author made those statements before the game released. People knew ahead of time and wanted a boycott.

But most people knew any boycott would only punish the people who worked on the game and put their hearts into it (like most boycotts).

So many people bought it, enjoyed it immensely, and moved on.

VenomUK6d ago

@CrimsonWing69 A greatly in demand IP only takes you so far, if it was crap quality then the reviews and word of mouth would have stalled its sales. But it is a good game (judged by Metacritic and user reviews) and that has given the game legs.

Tzuno6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

ngl, it got me in the first half hour
after that, a big let down, mediocre at every step
only fans are praising it

Markdn6d ago

In what way was it mediocre, can't really find anything about it that was mediocre and I'm not a hp fan

Demetrius6d ago

It's still a good game almost time for a 2nd playthrough, the passion they put into it is🔥🔥 crazy how after a couple months or a year folks get to complaining about this n that about certain games smh childish mfs

Show all comments (19)
530°

Activision Is The Greediest Studio In The Industry, $80 'Godzilla X Kong' B.E.A.S.T. Glove

Activision Blizzard is now charging $80 USD for a 'Godzilla x Kong' crossover weapon for 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III'.

Read Full Story >>
boundingintocomics.com
isarai28d ago

God i hate them so much 😒

GamerRN27d ago

I've noticed that the hate increased right after the purchase...

27d ago
isarai27d ago

And i noticed people defending being robbed right after the purchase....

Yang_kai27d ago

I noticed that it doesn’t say Microsoft but Activision blizzard like trying to cover for them as if Microsoft don’t own it

S2Killinit27d ago

@GamerRN
What kind if device did you use to gauge the increase?

DarXyde27d ago

Ah, the powerfully reductive "you're just jealous" defense.

Perhaps you don't understand how much corporations subscribe to the belief that they should "never let a good tragedy go to waste". The layoffs at ABK and this article have something in common: gamers who are aware of the acquisition would blame Microsoft, but those who aren't as up on this news as we are (most normal people) would say it's a scummy move from ABK. See my point? There's no agreement about who is to blame. It's fascinating because the way it is reported, you'd think they're a separate entity. I think Microsoft wants that. If you boycott ABK but you've got a Game Pass sub, you're still supporting them.

Purely anecdotal, but I do have a friend who hated Starfield not coming to PlayStation. He's got all of the platforms, but he does love his trophies. So what'd he do? He got Game Pass to play Starfield making sure Bethesda made "pennies on the dollar" (his words). He has no idea they're the same company and thought the exclusivity was a deal rather than a consequence of the acquisition, but that's my point: he's as normie as can be.

So when you say hate has increased, I think it's more a consequence of their actions following the purchase rather than any loyalty to a box. What's more, Microsoft is doing a pretty decent job of insulating themselves from what should probably be bigger backlash because there is a constant public separation of their properties. It's kind of like people having no idea Apple owns Beats or Better Help being an Israeli company.

GamerRN27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

@S2Killiniy

I used the comment section of this site, which is very good at gauging Sony Fanboy status...

Once again, as I always explain, I own and love both, but there is absolutely a one sided fanboy status that Sony fans pretend doesn't exist. I think it's because they want to justify their purchase and want to be on the cool side so they mock and insult the other console. A lot like iPhone users versus Android users...

Also, this article is also misleading. You don't but the glove for $80. You get it for free for buying 4 other $20 items... It rewards the whales. Nothing wrong with that.... It's cosmetic! And technically, it's free...

Cacabunga26d ago

Last Activision game i played was Transformers Devastation a PS+ freebie.. before that i have no idea.. I am boycotting them since PS3 for their anti consumer practices.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 26d ago
n1kki627d ago

It should be free. How dare they make money.

S2Killinit27d ago

Hmm strawman. Gotta save MS at all costs.

isarai27d ago

It shouldn't cost EIGHTY F#$KING DOLLARS!! they're making more than enough money, and you just love bending over and spreading your cheeks to give them even more. Tf is wrong with you people? 🤨

Profchaos27d ago

It costs more than the game it ships on and offers very little for some sort of movie tie in licensing thing it's gross.

No one is upset with them making money they want them to instead great their players with some respect which this clearly does not

GamerRN27d ago

It technically is free...

GamerRN26d ago

For those who didn't bother reading the article, it's given automatically to anyone who buys 4 of the other DLC

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 26d ago
ROCKY2827d ago

they suck every since they killed off guitar hero, prototype and many many more great titles

Skuletor27d ago

Current gen Prototype would be sick, thought the same thing last gen too.

ROCKY2827d ago

it's not Microsoft it's the idiots that still run Activision in LA
they need to close that office and put xbox peeps on the games and it will be great
LA office employees think of themselves over the company that is paying them - sad but true

Rude-ro27d ago

They put $20 on a generic color for halo infinite…
Microsoft is not going to be a solution.

S2Killinit26d ago

What a ridiculous comment.

MrBaskerville27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

MS probably didn't make them do it. But they didn't object either.

neutralgamer199227d ago

Is it activision now or is MS to blame now? MS owns them so it’s no longer what activision wants to do or Bobby kotick

I am just really tired of the greed in gaming industry right now. A company could make 250 million in profit and the following year could make 248 million. Instead of saying we made half a billion in 2 years they say we lost 2 million.

senorfartcushion27d ago

Well they would have done it anyway, but MS would have maybe had to sign off on the deal? So both.

TiredGamer27d ago

That's not how profit/loss statements work. A loss would be income minus expenses. What you're talking about is growth and/or the lack thereof.

Greed is inherent in all of us. Most individuals are self-serving and greedy; but few of us will admit as much.

neutralgamer199227d ago

Profit loss statement yes but these suits just don’t see it that way anymore. We have people investing in gaming who have no clue on how this works. All they see are numbers only

elazz27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

You should read about opportunity cost on investopedia. Whoever has a stake in companies are more and more making decisions like that: Opportunity cost represents the potential benefits that a business, an investor, or an individual consumer misses out on when choosing one alternative over another.

They believe that they will indeed lose the potential of more revenue if not adding more micro transactions. Even if the experience is bad. If a 100K people are willing to pay for this then for them they see no other choice but implementing it. They don't want to lose the opportunity of selling to whales or people susceptible to predatory tactics. The fun experience comes second in their eyes.

The only recent good example I can think of is Helldivers 2. And let's hope that remains like that. Warbonds and items can be farmed in a very reasonable time (Got a free warbond in less than 20 hours of gameplay myself). And no Fomo since it will always be available. Guess what I did. I bought the other one to support the studio but was not needed in any way to enjoy the experience.

KyRo27d ago

As someone who plays Warzone quite a bit, I'd say Acti are worse than EA in today's landscape. EA has been unusually quiet lately on the controversy front.

PapaBop27d ago

Probably because they've got the cash cow that is UltimateTeam which makes them stupid money for barely any effort.

SimpleSlave27d ago (Edited 27d ago )

"It's just cosmetic DLC! Don't buy it!" The problem is not that is cosmetic, the problem is that anyone with a functional brain saw the dark path we were heading a mile away. These companies employed outside firms in order to cater to the easily addicted personalities; Their whales. And it worked.

And what happened?

The abuse of cheap DLCs and Microtransactions by these companies Fundamentally changed how they design and develop their games. Now they just make billions selling the absolute worst trash to addicts. And THAT's the problem.

AAA games were supposed to be AAA experiences that have turned into AAA Bull💩 Trap Houses for microtransaction Junkies.

To each their own, but with uBeSawft now pushing for an always Online Single Player Campaign future, don't say we don't know where this path is headed. Cuz we know and we're focked. You've been warned.

Now get the fudge off my lawn hippies!

GamerRN27d ago

Every game seems to have gone down this route lately...

SimpleSlave27d ago

And the ones that have, you can even pinpoint exactly how the design of the game has been altered in order to accommodate such microtransactions.

Take Capcom fixation in making Fast Travelling a pain in Dragon's Dogma 1 & 2. Where you have to waste a lot of in-game money in order to move around. The original DD didn't have the Eternal Ferrystone, so they added it with the expansion because people were mad and the whole Microtransaction thing was too risky at the time. But instead of carrying that item over, and making the traversal experience a joy - Hello, Elden Ring - what do they do? Microtransaction bay bay! Pony up real ca$h or grind down the same path ad nauseam. Great choice.

And this example is on the more benign side of things. Games like Call of Duty have irreversibly changed their entire game design philosophy.

It was never about us not buying the DLCs "Cuz it's only Cosmetic!!" but about them finding a complete difference audience to exploit. And that they did indeed.

Charlieboy33327d ago

Stellar Blade, Balur's Gate 3, FF7 Rebirth, Rise of the Ronin, Spider-man 2 and plenty of others disagree.

GamerRN27d ago

Ok, you named a few incredible games that differ...

All other games disagree with you

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