Plus: Zenith's Surprising VR Steam Hit, Dying Light 2's Debut & More

This analysis examines the performance of PC and console titles during late January 2022, focusing on sales trends across Steam, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox. Utilizing proprietary Hype scores, concurrent user (CCU) data, and platform-specific top-grossing charts, the findings highlight a diversifying market where VR titles and niche genres are finding significant commercial success alongside established AAA franchises.

A primary finding is the breakout success of the VR MMO Zenith: The Last City, which reached the top of Steam’s global bestseller list. This performance is notable for the VR segment, supported by data showing that 40% of Steam VR users utilize Meta Quest 2 headsets. Other significant performers include the puzzle game Strange Horticulture and the visual novel Needy Streamer Overload, both of which significantly outperformed their initial Hype-to-Reality projections. In the AAA sector, Dying Light 2, Elden Ring, and Total War: Warhammer III maintain dominant positions through pre-order volume, with Dying Light 2 surpassing two million Steam wishlists ahead of its debut.

The scope of this data covers the global PC market via Steam and Epic Games Store, with specific regional focus on U.S. digital storefronts for Switch and Xbox. Methodology involves tracking weekly post-release charts, review counts, and CCU peaks to determine market health. Observations indicate a growing influence of Chinese-developed titles on Steam and a strong reliance on bundling strategies for legacy franchises, such as the Life Is Strange Remastered Collection. On consoles, titles like Astroneer and Rainbow Six Extraction lead recent third-party downloads, while the free-to-play Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel continues to dominate PlayStation engagement.