"Once Human Shines at Steam Next Fest, Yet Wishlists Lag"

Once Human, the highly anticipated third-person shooter from NetEase, has made a significant impact on Steam's Next Fest, boasting over 15 million registrations worldwide. This success underscores the game's popularity, yet a closer look reveals an interesting aspect of its audience distribution. Out of those 15 million, only 300,000 are wishlists on Steam, highlighting a notable difference in engagement between mobile and PC platforms.

NetEase, traditionally known for its mobile game prominence, is strategically focusing on a PC-first release for Once Human. This approach is evident with a closer release date set for the desktop version. The game's performance during Steam Next Fest, where it attracted the highest number of demo players, further solidifies its appeal among PC gamers. However, this also illuminates the challenge of discoverability on PC compared to mobile, where NetEase has historically excelled.

The disparity in audience engagement between mobile and PC platforms does not suggest that NetEase's strategy is misguided. On the contrary, targeting a PC audience is a calculated move, reflecting the game's strong performance on Steam. Yet, it underscores the broader challenge developers face in achieving similar levels of popularity and discoverability on PC as they do on mobile.

While you await the release of Once Human, if you're eager to explore other gaming options, why not check out our comprehensive list of the best mobile games of 2024 so far? You might find something that piques your interest. Additionally, our ever-expanding list of the most anticipated mobile games of the year offers a glimpse into upcoming releases that could be the next big thing in mobile gaming. Both lists feature handpicked entries, showcasing what we believe to be the best, or potentially the best, in mobile gaming.