"Once Human Dominates Steam Next Fest, Yet Wishlists Lag Behind"

Once Human, the eagerly anticipated third-person shooter from NetEase, has made a significant impact with over 15 million registrations worldwide. The game's success was particularly highlighted during Steam's Next Fest, where it attracted the highest number of demo players. However, a closer look reveals a nuanced picture: while the total pre-registrations are impressive, only 300,000 of these are wishlists on Steam. This discrepancy underscores the challenges of discoverability on PC compared to mobile platforms.

NetEase, traditionally known for its strong presence in the mobile gaming market, has opted for a PC-first release strategy with Once Human. This move, coupled with a more imminent release date for the desktop version, suggests a deliberate shift in focus. Despite this, the numbers indicate that mobile still holds a dominant position in terms of user engagement and reach.

The disparity between the 15 million pre-registrations and the 300,000 Steam wishlists highlights the different dynamics of audience reach and discoverability on PC versus mobile. Even for a well-established developer like NetEase, achieving the same level of popularity on PC as on mobile remains a challenging endeavor. This situation exemplifies the broader trend where mobile platforms often outshine PC in terms of user acquisition and engagement.

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NetEase's strategic focus on PC with Once Human is not without merit, and it's not a misstep by any means. However, it does shed light on the complexities of audience reach across different platforms. As we await the release of Once Human, mobile gamers can explore our comprehensive list of the best mobile games of 2024 to find engaging titles to play in the meantime. Additionally, our list of the most anticipated mobile games of the year offers a glimpse into upcoming releases that promise to be noteworthy additions to the mobile gaming landscape.