Hogwarts Legacy
Documents about Hogwarts Legacy
Which Steam Games Won Revenue Again in 2023?
This analysis examines Steam’s 2023 revenue performance and long-term growth trends for live-service titles.
- Steam's top-tier revenue is dominated by legacy live-service titles, with Platinum status requiring over $100 million in gross revenue and the Bronze tier floor estimated at $20 million to $30 million.
- While 35% of the top 99 grossing games in 2023 were new releases, the market remains heavily reliant on evergreen titles, some dating back to 2007, that prioritize long-term retention over one-time sales.
- Free-to-play and microtransaction-heavy models drive the majority of top-tier revenue, though premium titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Hogwarts Legacy demonstrated that 'buy once' games can still reach the highest rankings.
Plus: The Hogwarts Legacy Express Is Pulling In
Hogwarts Legacy is positioned to be one of the most significant releases of 2023, demonstrating massive pre-launch momentum on Steam.
- Hogwarts Legacy is projected to reach 5 to 10 million units in lifetime sales, supported by a GameDiscoverCo Hype score of 90,000 and over 325,000 Steam followers.
- The Hype score for Hogwarts Legacy is the third-highest recorded in recent years, trailing only Elden Ring and New World.
- The Dead Space remake is currently the top-selling paid title on both PlayStation and Xbox digital storefronts in the United States.
Landscape Shifts in IP Gaming
Licensed intellectual property serves as a foundational pillar of the modern gaming industry, functioning as a primary catalyst for user acquisition and long-term monetization.
- Licensed intellectual property is a primary driver of industry revenue, with the mobile sector generating $16 billion in in-app purchase revenue from licensed titles in 2023.
- The most effective market strategy involves pairing globally recognized IP with innovative genre combinations, such as integrating RPG or casino-style mechanics into familiar brand environments.
- Success in the current market is highly hit-driven, relying on a combination of high-impact, multi-channel marketing and deep brand loyalty, as evidenced by titles like MONOPOLY GO! and Hogwarts Legacy.
Plus: A Great Steam Start for Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 has achieved a record-breaking launch for Sony-published titles on Steam, reaching over 81,000 concurrent users (CCU) and securing more than 12,000 positive reviews.
- Helldivers 2 set a record for Sony-published titles on Steam, peaking at over 81,000 concurrent users and garnering more than 12,000 positive reviews.
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Tekken 8 are currently leading the console charts on PlayStation and Xbox, while Hogwarts Legacy maintains its position as the top third-party performer on Nintendo Switch.
- Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is positioned for a strong launch with a pre-release follower base of nearly 30,000 users.
Game Annual Charts: The Most Successful New Games in Germany in 2023
The annual charts published by the German Games Industry Association identify the most successful PC and console game releases of 2023 within the German market.
- EA SPORTS FC 24 was the best-selling PC and console game in Germany for 2023, consistently ranking in the top three monthly charts following its September release.
- Hogwarts Legacy secured the second position in the 2023 annual sales charts for PC and console games.
- Diablo IV, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom rounded out the top five best-selling new releases in Germany for 2023.
Hogwarts Legacy Sold 22 Million Copies, Quidditch Game Coming
Hogwarts Legacy established itself as a dominant force in the 2023 gaming landscape, achieving a significant commercial milestone with 22 million units sold.
- Hogwarts Legacy sold 22 million copies by the end of 2023, with 2 million units sold during the December holiday season, making it the top-selling game of the year.
- Players spent 707 million hours playing Hogwarts Legacy since its launch on February 10, with many replaying the game to experience different Hogwarts houses.
- Warner Bros. Discovery Games plans to expand its franchise strategy beyond traditional console and PC releases to include more 'always-on' gameplay through live services, multi-platform, and free-to-play extensions.
The State of AAA Game Advertising
The analysis demonstrates that 2023 marked a peak in AAA game advertising, with live-service titles such as Fortnite commanding the highest spend (US$57 M) and blockbuster launches—Hogwarts Legacy, Diablo IV, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III—each exceeding US$25 M. YouTube remained the dominant channel (35% of spend), yet…
- AAA game advertising peaked in 2023, with top live-service titles like Fortnite spending US$57M and major launches including Hogwarts Legacy, Diablo IV, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III each exceeding US$25M.
- YouTube remains the primary advertising channel at 35% of total spend, though publishers are increasingly diversifying into Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to reach broader audiences.
- Activision Blizzard and Epic Games led the market in 2023, each allocating over US$70M to U.S. campaigns for both new intellectual properties and established franchises.
Top-Grossing and Best-Selling New Game Releases of 2023
This analysis provides an overview of the top-performing video game releases of 2023 across major platforms, including Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III led unit sales on both PlayStation and Xbox, while also generating the highest total revenue on Steam.
- Sons of the Forest outperformed major AAA titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III to become the best-selling new release by unit volume on Steam.
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom secured the top position for digital unit sales on the Nintendo Switch.
Newzoo Global Games Market Forecast 2023
The global games market experienced a modest recovery in 2023, reaching $184 billion in revenue, a 0.6% increase year-over-year.
- The global games market reached $184 billion in 2023, representing a modest 0.6% year-over-year recovery following the industry's first decline in 15 years during 2022.
- Global gaming revenue is projected to grow to $205.7 billion by 2026, though the industry remains in a period of cautious recalibration and operational efficiency.
- Market performance in 2023 was split between high-performing new releases like Hogwarts Legacy, Diablo IV, and Baldur’s Gate 3, and long-standing live-service titles like Fortnite that dominate monthly active user rankings.
What Were the Top New PC & Console Games of 2023?
This analysis identifies the top-performing new video game releases of 2023 across major PC and console platforms, including Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
- Steam's market shows a clear bifurcation where independent titles like Sons Of The Forest lead in unit sales, while high-priced AAA releases like Hogwarts Legacy capture the majority of gross revenue.
- Console markets on PlayStation and Xbox remain heavily reliant on established intellectual properties and sequels, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, EA Sports FC 24, and Spider-Man 2 serving as the primary revenue drivers.
- Consumer behavior differs significantly by platform, as Steam players demonstrate a high appetite for mid-priced indie games, whereas console users prioritize premium AAA experiences or subscription-based access.
Launching PC & Console Titles in the Ever-Changing Games Market
The PC and console gaming market is characterized by intense competition and the dominance of established franchises, with total revenues projected to reach $95.2$ billion in 2023.
- The PC and console market is highly consolidated, as 18 of the top 20 games by monthly active users (MAU) in 2022 were legacy titles, with Hogwarts Legacy being the only new release to reach that tier in early 2023.
- Market saturation is increasing, evidenced by a rising number of Steam releases coupled with a declining number of titles achieving a 50,000 lifetime player milestone.
- Gaming is a primary leisure activity for younger demographics, with 89% of Gen Z and 82% of Millennials identifying as enthusiasts and dedicating approximately 20% of their free time to gaming.
Starfield Takes Over Steam Charts
The primary purpose of this analysis is to document the commercial performance of the video game Starfield during its early access period on the Steam platform.
- Starfield topped the Steam weekly revenue chart for the period of August 29 to September 5, 2023, during its early access phase.
- The game’s revenue-based ranking was driven by strong sales of its Premium edition, allowing it to outperform established titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Starfield reached a peak of 248,632 concurrent users on Steam, marking the fifth-largest release of 2023 at the time of the report.