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 significant pre-registration numbers, exceeding 15 million globally. The game's success at Steam Next Fest further highlights its appeal. However, a closer look reveals a disparity between its mobile and PC performance.

While boasting over 15 million pre-registrations overall, only 300,000 of these are Steam wishlists. This underscores the challenge NetEase faces in achieving comparable discoverability on PC, despite prioritizing a PC-first release strategy. The game's strong showing at Steam Next Fest, attracting the most demo players, demonstrates its inherent appeal, but also highlights the contrasting reach of mobile and PC gaming markets.

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NetEase's PC focus is understandable, but the figures reveal a significant difference in audience reach and discoverability between the two platforms. Even a major developer like NetEase faces hurdles in replicating its mobile success on PC.

For those anticipating Once Human's release, exploring our curated lists of the best and most anticipated mobile games of 2024 offers a compelling alternative in the interim. These lists feature handpicked titles showcasing the best mobile gaming has to offer.