Once Human: Steam Next Fest Success Fuels Wishlist Surge

NetEase's upcoming third-person shooter, Once Human, has achieved impressive pre-registration numbers, exceeding 15 million globally. The game's strong showing at Steam Next Fest further highlights its appeal. However, a closer look reveals a significant difference between overall pre-registrations and Steam wishlists—only 300,000 players added Once Human to their Steam wishlists.

This disparity is particularly interesting considering NetEase's history of mobile game development and their apparent PC-first strategy for Once Human. While the game's Steam Next Fest performance was undeniably strong, attracting the most demo players, it underscores the stark contrast in reach and discoverability between the PC and mobile gaming markets. Even a major developer like NetEase faces challenges achieving comparable levels of popularity and visibility on PC compared to mobile.

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This isn't to criticize NetEase's PC focus; it's a strategic decision. However, the data highlights the significant differences in audience size and discoverability between these platforms.

While you wait for Once Human's release, explore our comprehensive list of the best mobile games of 2024 (so far) or check out our constantly updated list of the year's most anticipated mobile games. Both lists feature hand-picked titles we believe offer the best—or potential for the best—mobile gaming experiences.