"Once Human: A Major Hit at Steam Next Fest, Yet Wishlists Lag Behind"

Once Human, the eagerly anticipated third-person shooter from NetEase, has made a significant impact by amassing over 15 million registrations worldwide. The game's success was notably highlighted during Steam's Next Fest, where it attracted the highest number of demo players. Despite this achievement, a closer look reveals a disparity in its popularity across platforms. While the total registration number is impressive, only 300,000 of these are wishlists on Steam, suggesting a gap between mobile and PC engagement.

NetEase, traditionally strong in the mobile gaming sector, has strategically chosen a PC-first release schedule for Once Human. This move underscores the challenges of achieving similar levels of discoverability and popularity on PC as on mobile, even for a well-established developer like NetEase. The decision to prioritize PC release dates closer to the launch further emphasizes their focus on this platform.

The contrast in audience engagement between mobile and PC platforms highlights the ongoing challenge of discoverability in the gaming industry. While Once Human has enjoyed considerable success on Steam, the significantly higher registration numbers on mobile platforms illustrate the dominance and reach of mobile gaming. This scenario showcases the difficulties that developers face in achieving the same level of visibility and user engagement on PC as they do on mobile.

As we await the full release of Once Human, those interested in mobile gaming can explore our curated list of the best mobile games of 2024. This collection offers a variety of top-tier games to enjoy while you wait. Additionally, our list of the most anticipated mobile games of the year provides insights into upcoming releases, ensuring you stay updated on the latest and greatest in mobile gaming.