- Once Human emerged as a major standout during Steam Next Fest
- Yet NetEase's upcoming third-person shooter still trails behind its mobile counterparts
- With its PC-first launch strategy, does this highlight the greater discoverability challenges compared to mobile platforms?
NetEase's upcoming third-person shooter Once Human has exceeded 15 million global registrations, with the developer highlighting its impressive performance during Steam Next Fest. However, there's an interesting nuance to this success story.
While the game has indeed amassed over 15 million pre-registrations, only 300,000 of these represent Steam wishlists. We previously noted that NetEase, traditionally focused on mobile gaming, appears to be pursuing a PC-first release strategy for Once Human, even assigning the desktop version a much nearer launch date.
This isn't to suggest NetEase is chasing windmills. The game proved incredibly popular on Steam, attracting the highest number of demo players during Steam Next Fest. Still, these figures underscore the continuing divide between mobile and PC gaming audiences, with mobile maintaining its dominance in certain metrics.
We don't fault NetEase for targeting the PC gaming market, nor do we consider this move misguided. However, these developments reveal the significant audience differences between platforms and illustrate how even major developers can struggle to achieve comparable visibility and discoverability on PC versus mobile.
While waiting for Once Human's release, why not explore our comprehensive list of the best mobile games of 2024 to date? You might discover something that captures your interest.
Alternatively, browse our regularly updated compilation of the year's most anticipated mobile games to see what other exciting titles are on the horizon. Both lists feature carefully selected entries representing what we consider the current and potential standouts in mobile gaming.
