Rhys Elliott
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Wardogs has already made more money than Marathon, and its Steam launch momentum is ahead of Arc Raiders and Helldivers 2
Wardogs has achieved significant commercial success on Steam, selling over 2.2 million copies and generating $70 million in revenue, outperforming Bungie's Marathon and showing stronger initial momentum than Arc Raiders and Helldivers 2. The game's pricing strategy is cited as a key factor in its success, though developer Bulkhead faces scrutiny over its work culture and CEO Joe Brammer's controversial comments.
Death Stranding Franchise Likely Barely Broke Even, Could Explain Sony Dropping Physint – Analyst
An analyst suggests that Sony Interactive Entertainment's decision to drop funding for Hideo Kojima's upcoming game, Physint, is likely due to the underperformance of the Death Stranding franchise. Despite the games' critical reception, both Death Stranding and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach have reportedly struggled to break even financially for Sony, leading the company to become more cautious with high-budget projects. Xbox has since stepped in to support Physint.
GTA 6 Is Going To Be Huge. So Why Is Take-Two’s Stock Having Such A Bad Year?
Despite immense hype for Grand Theft Auto 6, Take-Two Interactive's stock has declined significantly over the past year. Factors contributing to this include investor concerns over AI technology, a high price-to-earnings ratio, and the impact of leaks, which have rattled confidence in the company's control over its flagship product. While analysts remain largely bullish on the stock's long-term potential, citing the expected success of GTA 6 and its online component, the market's short-term reaction has been negative.
Sony is Ending PlayStation Discs Despite Commercial Success to “Control” The Market, says Analyst
An analyst suggests Sony is ending PlayStation disc production in January 2028 to control the market and prioritize digital revenue, despite strong commercial success from physical releases like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Ghost of Yōtei. While live-service games like Helldivers 2 show less reliance on physical sales, Sony aims to capture more revenue and potentially influence the market ahead of a rumored digital-only PlayStation 6 handheld.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Sold 2.5 Million Copies Across PC and PS5 – Analyst
An analyst report estimates Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sold 2.5 million copies across PC and PlayStation 5, generating $170 million. While the PS5 version sold 1.8 million copies, sales reportedly underperformed after an initial strong launch, with discounts impacting revenue. The original Death Stranding has sold 5 million copies since its 2019 release.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 earned 35% of its $1.2 billion on disc, analyst says, but PlayStation is more interested in…
An analysis by Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics suggests that Sony's decision to move away from physical PlayStation releases is driven by profit margins and market control, rather than a decline in physical sales for prestige single-player games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2. While Marvel's Spider-Man 2 generated $1.2 billion, 35% of that revenue came from physical disc sales, indicating a significant market still exists.
Steam Has Generated $15 Billion in Revenue in 2026 So Far, Says Analyst
Steam has generated $15 billion in revenue so far in 2026, according to analyst Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics. Six new games, including Forza Horizon 6, Crimson Desert, and Resident Evil Requiem, contributed nearly $1 billion to this total. While established IPs dominate revenue, new IPs like Crimson Desert are showing significant success.
Steam Has Generated $15 Billion In Revenue So Far, And New Games Are A Big Part Of It
Steam has generated $15 billion in revenue so far in 2026, according to Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics. Top-selling games like Forza Horizon 6 and Crimson Desert contributed significantly, with new IPs making up 63% of the top 100 new games by gross revenue. Future releases like Phantom Blade Zero and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are expected to further boost Steam's earnings.
Steam earned Valve $15 billion in revenue so far this year, with Crimson Desert alone topping $203 million according to…
Steam has generated $15 billion in gross revenue so far this year, with projections indicating it will exceed $20 billion by year's end. Crimson Desert emerged as the most successful new intellectual property on the platform, earning over $203 million. While no single game dominated, titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Resident Evil Requiem also performed strongly, contributing to Steam's significant revenue growth.
The Witcher 3 – Songs of the Past, Warlock Earned the Most Steam Wishlists During Gamescom – Rumor
During Gamescom, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past reportedly garnered the most Steam wishlists with 451,000. Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons followed with 379,000, and Ananta with 302,000. Other notable titles included LEGO Skylines and Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake.
The Witcher 3 DLC, Warlock, and open-world anime RPG Ananta gained the most Steam wishlists of everything we saw at…
Steam wishlist data from Gamescom 2026 reveals that The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past DLC garnered the most wishlists, followed by the upcoming RPG Warlock and the anime-inspired open-world game Ananta. The Witcher 3 remaster and the next main installment, The Witcher 4, are also contributing to significant hype for the franchise.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Is Way Ahead Of Black Ops 7 Already By One Metric
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is reportedly outselling Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on Steam by a significant margin, with nearly 400,000 copies sold before release compared to Black Ops 7's 200,000. The upcoming title's beta also saw higher concurrent player numbers. Analysts suggest Modern Warfare 4's current-gen-only release could boost sales for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
The people of video games on what gives them cause for hope
Industry professionals share their reasons for optimism despite current challenges, highlighting the resilience of game developers, the innovation within the indie scene, the growing cultural impact of games, and the enduring passion of players. They emphasize community support, creative freedom, and the potential for new ideas to emerge from difficult times, suggesting a bright future for the medium.
What Goes Into A Game Price Tag?
The article explores the factors influencing video game pricing, from the standard $70 AAA price point to lower-cost indie titles. Experts and developers discuss how production costs, market demand, and pricing strategies impact a game's success, with examples like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Mina the Hollower illustrating different approaches. The piece highlights that while some games command premium prices, others thrive by offering lower entry points to reach a wider audience.
Game Companies Could Learn Wrong Lessons From GTA 6’s $80 Price, Analyst Says
Industry analyst Rhys Elliott of Ampere Analytics suggests that publishers might misinterpret Grand Theft Auto 6's $80 price point as a universal green light for all AAA games. He argues the correct lesson is to maintain a $70 base price and offer premium editions with extras, rather than universally increasing prices, especially as living costs rise and console prices increase.
Why Are Video Game Consoles So Expensive These Days (And Games Historically Cheap)?
Video game consoles and games are becoming increasingly expensive due to a confluence of factors including tariffs, AI-driven demand for components, and a structural shift in the console business model. Experts predict hardware costs will remain high for several more years, potentially impacting future console generations like the PlayStation 6 and Project Helix.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Update With Bug Fixes, Stability Improvements Drops This Week
Halo Studios is releasing an update for Halo: Campaign Evolved this week on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, featuring bug fixes and stability improvements. Despite critical acclaim, the game has reportedly underperformed in sales, selling significantly less than Call of Duty titles released in the same period, with analysts suggesting PlayStation players favored nostalgia over the new release.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Sold 485,000 Units in First Week, 74 Percent of Sales on PS5 – Rumor
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls reportedly sold 485,000 units across PlayStation 5 and PC in its first week, generating $33 million in revenue. The PlayStation 5 accounted for 74% of sales, with the PC version facing criticism for performance issues. Despite a rocky launch, the developer plans long-term support including new characters like Phoenix Cyclops.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls looks to have sold almost half a million copies in a week
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has reportedly sold nearly 500,000 copies across PlayStation 5 and PC within its first week. PlayStation 5 accounted for 74% of sales, with North America making up 75% of the player base. Despite initial performance issues on PC, the game's sales pace is comparable to Dragon Ball FighterZ, which went on to sell over 10 million copies.
Gears of War: E-Day Beta Crosses 20,000 Concurrent Players on Steam
The multiplayer beta for Gears of War: E-Day has achieved over 22,000 concurrent players on Steam, significantly surpassing previous entries in the franchise. Analyst Rhys Elliot estimates 1.2 million Xbox players participated, with a strong majority having played Gears 5. Pre-order figures on Steam have also doubled following the beta's success.
