It’s slowly, slowly starting to change (mostly because of extended delays to games), but the industry’s had a terrible penchant for releasing games in the very last quarter of the year, making it a terribly expensive time for most gamers who like to play everything. October and November are traditionally the best months for gamers who like shiny new things, and the worst months for their remaining disposable income.
It’s an old tradition, and ties in to the notion that games are for kids, and need to be released around the holidays for them to achieve maximum sales. Warner Bros is starting to realise that that’s just not the case.
They released the rather good Dying Light at the beginning of the year, followed by Mortal Kombat in April, and recently Arkham Knight which, despite a broken PC version, has done rather damned well at retail. In North America, they’ve even done publishing duties on The Witcher 3, and we all know how well that game’s done.
In an interview with Gameinformer, WBIE Executive VP and General Manager David Haddad said that games can succeed when not released in that fabled period.
“I think every publisher considers windows and competitive windows when they release. So it’s not that we never think about that. In the case of these schedules, this was when we thought these games had enough time and enough focus from the development to make them as good as we needed to have them go into the market. So that’s what dictated it.
“I think the notion that gamers only buy content in the fourth quarter is just not true. We had a release in January that did very well in Dying Light. Mortal Kombat did very well in its window in April. I think we can find gamers for great content when we choose to release it,” Haddad said.
I’m rather glad to not have every single anticipated AAA game out at the same time, with great games spread out over the whole year. It makes things easier on my eyeballs and my wallet. While I don’t expect it to happen, it’s a shift I’d be happier to see more big publishers adopting.
Games we’ll likely see in this year’s fourth quarter include Fallout 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops3, Assassins Creed Syndicate, Rainbow Six: Siege, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Star Wars Battlefront, Xcom 2, Guitar Hero Live, Rockband 4, Halo Guardians, WWE2K16, Hitman and very probably even more. It’s hard to keep up.
In the same interview, Haddad said that the publisher of a game doesn’t really matter either. It’s all about the game’s themselves – which is how it should always be, really. The interview is well worth a read, and you can find it here.
Last Updated: July 9, 2015
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:07
Ciri: Tell me… How do you do it?
Geralt: I know an ancient Witcher technique.
Throws pack of Gwent cards in Ciri’s face
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:08
Fifty Shades of Gwent
WitWolfy
July 9, 2015 at 12:58
Geralt: I dont play cards. I GWENT!
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:08
Games aren’t seasonal.
Sure, most retailers do up to 50% of their yearly sales over Christmas, and of course it will affect game sales. So new games released during that time might have greater sales, the probability is much higher.
However, more sales does not mean a game was necessarily more successful.
Marcus
July 9, 2015 at 12:16
Money = success. Ask EA, they recon BF4 at launch was the best thing since sliced bread! So many fails in so little time…
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:19
Oh I know for them more sales means more success. EA and Ubi, and maybe even WB now, they don’t work on serviceable games. They work on releases and what they can get out of each of them.
A successful game in my eyes is something like Skyrim and Fallout, which still after so many years keep popping up on Steam’s best selling games, year-after-year.
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 12:09
Well so far….
Fallout 4 – SOLD!
Assassins Creed Syndicate – Nope, maybe later
Rainbow Six: Siege – Depends on friends
Rise of the Tomb Raider – Fuck you PS4
Star Wars Battlefront – LOL EA!
Hitman – Maybe.
Call of Duty: Black Ops3 – hahahaha GTFO
Problem solved
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:12
Rainbow Six Siege = Ubi can suck it.
Rise of the Tomb Raider = what you said.
Assassins Creed Syndicate = Ubi can suck it again
Fallout 4 = bought and paid for
Star Wars BF = ROFL EA!
Hitman = still need to play absolution
Call Of Doody.
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 12:21
You see? Lots of weight of my shoulders, yours too…
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:21
It’s tough. It really is. ;P
Marcus
July 9, 2015 at 12:12
Also not touching Battlefront. Siege, I’m very tempted to get onto the hype train!
Ir0nseraph
July 9, 2015 at 12:37
Fallout 4 – Meh 😛
Assassins Creed Syndicate – Nope, maybe later
Rainbow Six: Siege – Depends on friends
Rise of the Tomb Raider – I will take Lara for a spin
Star Wars Battlefront – LOL EA!
Hitman – Nope
Call of Duty: Black Ops3 – hahahaha GTFO
Halo 5 – 50/50
Just Cause 3 – arrives early December and the only real game I want.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:39
Just Cause 3
FOR
SHIZZLE
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 13:18
Just Cause 3! Oh please let it have proper MP
GooseZA
July 9, 2015 at 12:41
For me, the problem is that in order to play any of those I’d have to stop playing Elite Dangerous. I’m not sure I can do that.
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 13:18
I want to play that one day.
Sageville
July 9, 2015 at 12:56
Fallout 4 – Maybe, couldn’t penetrate the previous releases…
Assassins Creed Syndicate – NO! I’m done with cloned games
Rainbow Six: Siege – Maybe
Rise of the Tomb Raider – NO
Star Wars Battlefront – In the name of Star Wars I will
Hitman – Maybe.
Call of Duty: Black Ops3 – Maybe, I’m not done with cloned games….
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:56
LOL
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 13:17
This is why we almost never play with you!
*Storms off
WitWolfy
July 9, 2015 at 13:00
Fallout 4 – Meh… Tired of open world
Assassins Creed Syndicate – You bet ya!
Rainbow Six: Siege – Not my cup of tea
Rise of the Tomb Raider – bought a Xbone yesterday so YES!
Star Wars Battlefront – LOL EA!
Hitman – Nope
Call of Duty: Black Ops3 – hahahaha GTFO
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 13:02
Tired of Open World? Never!! That’s like saying I’m tired of freedom. 😛
WitWolfy
July 9, 2015 at 13:04
You know whats Ironic? AC Syndicate is open world. I just realized that! LOL
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 13:15
Haha. I seriously still have to play Black Flag.
WitWolfy
July 9, 2015 at 13:17
Good game. Enjoyed it too pieces. Just dont get Freedom cry, got bored of it an hour in.
Nikola
July 9, 2015 at 13:54
Best in AC series by far definitely go for it!!
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 15:27
It’s just getting past Uplay that’s the problem for me. Otherwise I would’ve bought it a long time ago.
Nikola
July 10, 2015 at 13:41
Yeah it is rather annoying I guess playing on console you avoid that so haven’t had to deal with it much.
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 13:17
Congrats. I do want a XBOX One but money man, money.
Ir0nseraph
July 9, 2015 at 13:28
Takes Screenshot again, 2nd time Hammer compliments Xbox 😛
Apocalypse approaching ???
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 13:43
I’m the keymaster and @pieterkruger:disqus is the gatekeeper.
Ir0nseraph
July 9, 2015 at 14:03
LoL
Nikola
July 9, 2015 at 13:54
You take that shiit back!!!! Traitor..
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 14:00
XD
Sageville
July 9, 2015 at 14:03
He may need to hand his PS4 in…
Nikola
July 9, 2015 at 14:08
I think he actually musts you know what the problem is he has been hanging too much with Iron he is slowly converting him into his evil ways of the Xbox One…
Marcus
July 9, 2015 at 12:10
Release a game year end, only playable in May. Have to admit, Rockband 4 looks like fun.
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:13
Thanks to The Witcher 3 This has been the longest dry spell in buying a new game ever.
I still need to buy Batman and Project Cars.
But then Fallout will be out in no time. The game sales are going to suffer big time thanks to Dvelopers giving us real bang for your buck.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:14
Batman will wait for us pc gamers now until it’s on sale. Even if it’s fixed in four or five months, it’ll be an old game by then. Same thing happened with GTA V.
Project Cars I really want though.
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:17
I am on my second play through and I am enjoying the game even more now that I dont have to rush to see the outcome of the Narrative.
May 19 – July 5 for the first play. Should be finished by August 15… Might do a third play. SO MUCH WIN
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:21
Still first playthrough in W3 myself. I do a proper run through side-quests, just enjoying the whole shebang while getting back to the main quest every once in a while. Almost finished with the main line now actually. 😀 Still need to spend a LOT of time in Skellige though.
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:24
Skellige his hauntingly beautiful. Not enough time was spent there. I rushed the story. I need to give the Skyrim killer Skellige more love this time. As for the music, DAM That Slovakian singer hits a chord.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:26
What I like about Skellige is how much more of a vertical area it is. The views you get from up in the mountains are amazing. Velen is just too flat to have that same experience.
The only thing that the Skyrim map still has over Skellige for me is that feeling it gives of of being so small in the world around you.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:27
Kaer Morhen is even prettier when it comes to that.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:31
Kaer Morhen really is. Only spent about 20 min there so far, but now I’m stationed there for a bit, so getting to love it more now.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:32
There’s a spot on the far end of the lake, a question mark where you kill a wyvern. Most beautiful spot in the whole game.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:33
I went there two days ago.
And I agree. 😀
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:36
I found myself unexpectedly swimming, after falling 50feet 😛 Dont piss Yen off
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:28
Ya, the Yennifer side quest pops your eyeballs out. It is without doubt the best graphics that I have ever seen. So many screen shots lol… I am talking about the geography 😛
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:30
I overuse my screenshot button in that game.
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 12:32
I over use Youtube
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:33
You don’t HAVE to rewatch the sex scenes over and over again. There are other cool clips too.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:34
Exactly, it’s not like you even have to leave the game. As long as you’ve got money, Cripple Kate’s is always open.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:35
LOL
I must say though, with that Triss clip.
>>>SPOILER ALERT<<<
Those dudes on the boat outside the lighthouse had me laughing.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:36
I didn’t ask her to stay. That made me really sad.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:37
Okay. Here’s my confession.
I was all YENNEFER. Until that moment in the gardens at that party.
Then I asked Triss to stay 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:39
That party was such a cool character moment. I was like “d’awwwwwwww”
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:42
Come on, what warm blooded male would walk away from a girl in a fox mask?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:43
It’s about ethics in shagging sorceresses.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:43
Guilty conscience for me.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:44
Me too now, I just remembered about Keira.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:48
I told her “there’s someone else” even when I didn’t know who that was 😀
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:50
She prefers dark haired men anyway. WITCH!!! 😛
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:53
I have dark hair! Damn you! 😉
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:40
Live in the moment, pay the consequences later.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:43
😀
It was an internal battle. But yes.
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:45
Bioware need to learn from this game.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:47
Everyone does
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:48
And then later you find out Yen threw a bed out the window at Kaer Morhen because it had red hair in it haha.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:48
Someone’s gonna get a-hurt real bad!
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:48
I actually got that part before.
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:48
Now things are just awkward with everyone at Kaer Morhen.
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:39
The lesser of 2 goods
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:41
I literally sat there for a minute deciding. 🙁
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:41
me too, then the Yennifer side quest made me feel like utter shit.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:42
That moment on the boat at the end. D’AWWWWWWWWWW
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:44
🙁 Thank goodness I will never have to feel that in real life. Being a ginger with no soul helps 😉
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:38
lol That was funny
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:38
“It’s code!”
Hammersteyn
July 9, 2015 at 13:19
There are? will wonders never cease to amaze
Rock789
July 9, 2015 at 12:27
I’m a few hours into Skellige now and main story seems to be gathering pace… And damn, it’s a fantastic place! “Hauntingly beautiful” – that’s a perfect description for Skellige! It’s my favourite Witcher 3 locale by far! Can’t wait to spend more time there.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:27
Damn, I’ve only just gotten to the point where I have to go find allies.
Apparently I shouldn’t have killed Letho in W2. :/
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:28
Haha. Oh yes
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:30
I love how the quests all pop up, one is “go find allies in velen”, 1 second later is “quest completed”. but… but…what? O_O
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:32
Hehe. I know. The thing about doing everything you come across along your way.
oVg"Guard boat with boat"Troll
July 9, 2015 at 12:33
That was the best part of the game. It recorded everything and did not glitch out like Skyrim by going OCD on the world.
On my second play Im doing the quests chronologically and it makes more sense to the narrative. But finding an important second quest that does not need to be triggered yet was WIN
Brady miaau
July 9, 2015 at 12:59
I found him by searching. so, spoiler alert, I will ned to later on.
Also killed ms Metz. she pissed me off.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 13:09
I’m on the same play through I started way back in W1, so it’s too late for me to go back & change that even if I wanted to hehe. I’ve been living with my choices, even though some of them have turned out rather badly.
Can understand why you did that, she’s VERY manipulative.
RinceThis
July 9, 2015 at 12:38
But, but, you have to give the game to me! Also, you said this generation was broken! Give me your console now!
Sageville
July 9, 2015 at 12:58
Witcher 3 also covered me for a long while, it was perfectly placed during a time when no other good AAA games of interest to me were released, they did a good job.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 13:07
Don’t forget the expansions are coming out too. 😉
WitWolfy
July 9, 2015 at 13:10
Already bought it PAPA. I’m actually curious to see where it goes after the Wild Hunt. Oh God I hope its not just side quests… Heck I’ll even like to play as Ciri up to the point where Geralt finds her!
WitWolfy
July 9, 2015 at 13:08
After playing Witcher 3. Batman AK or any other open world is gonna feel like a rushed mess. Thats why I’m trying to avoid open world games now… Nothing will EVER compare to Witcher 3… NOTHING!!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 9, 2015 at 12:26
“In the case of these schedules, this was when we thought these games had enough time and enough focus from the development to make them as good as we needed to have them go into the market.”
The one time waiting until Xmas would’ve been the right call. 😛
Captain JJ wants moar
July 9, 2015 at 12:28
“as good as we needed to have them go into the market,”
Something WB should maybe have considered.
CaseyAAvera
July 9, 2015 at 13:12
High Quality performance lazygamer…. <…. Find Here
Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire
July 9, 2015 at 13:40
After GTA5, Project Cars and Arkham Knight, and if the next Hitman is up to standard, I think I’ll have reached my personal gaming nirvana. I don’t see myself wanting anything else.
Nikola
July 9, 2015 at 13:56
Of all those games honestly I will get Fallout and Battlefront the rest I have no interest since certain douchebags decided to give Lara only to the Xbox people:) AC I will buy once I finish and buy Unity!
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