Best Selling Video Games in 2016 – WholesGame’s Forecast
During the period around Christmas and the New Year, there are many articles about most anticipated games for the upcoming year in various online and offline publications. Many authors express their views on what they consider would be the best games that deserve to be included in the best list.
This is a look at the upcoming games in 2016 from the perspective of their potential sales. How well will the games sell and which games deserve more attention and are worth to be pre-ordered by game trading companies for reselling? Which of the upcoming future releases are more promising from the perspective of video game traders – wholesalers, distributors, and retailers?
The list is open for discussion, additions, and changes. We will be glad to hear your views. If you are interested you can read more about the methodology used for the assessment.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: May 10, 2016
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is the 2016 release of the Sony’s signature game series. It is releasing in early spring, which is a quiet season for new releases and most probably the game will take the top of the best selling video games charts, and with slight variations, it may stay on the top for many weeks, potentially up until September. The game also has potential to take one of the top positions of the chart for the entire year. Excellent selling potential both before and after the release date.
Street Fighter V
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Dimps
Platforms: PC, PS4
Release Date: 16/02/2016
This is the 2016 release of the Capcom’s famous Street Fighter series. The game will include four new characters with total of 16 characters. Capcom estimates to sell 2 million copies worldwide in a year. There is a slight concern as the game is coming out only one week before the release of Far Cry Primal, which is a huge title, and many gamers not being able to afford buying games every week, may prefer to keep their money for Far Cry Primal. Though Street Fighter V is a strong title, its sale timeline may spread a little but sales are expected to be good, it is worth stocking sufficient quantities for reselling.
Far Cry Primal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 23/02/2016
This is one of the major titles of the year, the 2016 release of Ubisoft’s famous Far Cry series. Unlike other Far Cry games, loaded with cars and guns, this game is set on Stone Age, 12,000 years ago. Players have access to limited range of tools and weapons, which they have to build themselves. Far Cry Primal is expected to take top positions in the best selling video games chart right after its release date, most probably the third position in the chart, below Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 and Fifa 16, and with slight variations, stay there till the end of April by the time of release of Uncharted 4.
Tom Clancy’s The Division
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 08/03/2016
Another Ubisoft’s strong title, Tom Clancy’s The Division is expected to release in early spring. The game has been in development for a long time, starting from 2013, the release was postponed two times, and it has been already showcased during E3 2014. It is expected to take high positions and stay in the chart for considerable time and provide solid sales.
Dark Souls III
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: From Software
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 2016
Dark Souls 3 was also initially expected to release earlier, in 2015, however the release date was postponed till this year. This is a sequel to Bandai Namco’s game series, developed by FromSoftware, the development started in 2013, and the game was already featured at Gamescom 2015. The developer was working on Dark Souls 3 in parallel with another big title, Bloodborne for Sony, which has been completed earlier. In addition to standard edition, Dark Souls III will also have Apocalypse Edition, Prestige Edition, and Collectors Edition.
Gears Of War 4
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: The Coalition
Platforms: Xbox One
Release Date: 2016
Gear’s of War 4 is the 2016 release of Microsoft’s famous game series. The previous release Gears of War: Ultimate Edition that came out at the end of August 2015 already included a beta access to Gears of War 4. The previous releases of the game series have been developed by Epic Games, however Gears of Wars 4 is developed by The Coalition with the former Production Director from Epic Games joining the company. Gears of War are traditionally strong sellers, Microsoft also uses the games of this franchise to bundle with consoles.
Battleborn
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Gearbox Software
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 03/05/2016
Battleborn is a new highly expected game, developed by Gearbox Software. This is the first IP created by Gearbox since Borderlands in 2009, and many fans have been waiting for it. Battleborn is a first-person shooter combined with multiplayer online battle arena. It has 25 playable characters upon release, each with different abilities and weapons. Even in the multiplayer mode there will be some characters controlled by artificial intelligence. Battleborn is highly expected game with a very strong selling potential.
Dishonored 2
Publisher: Bethesda
Developer: Arkane Studios
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 2016
Bethesda’s Dishonored 2 is a sequel to the original Dishonored and is expected to release in 2016. The original game was released in 2012 and was highly appraised by critics and gamers, with around 9/10 average score from most of reviewers. Dishonored 2 is being developed using Bethesda’s new game-engine. The release day is still unknown, the game is excepted to have a good demand.
Doom
Publisher: Bethesda
Developer: id Software
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 2016
Doom is the 2016 release of one of the most iconic game series developed by id Software. Originally the new game was expected to be called Doom 4, the works on it started long time ago but after some works the project was stopped. Development restarted in 2011 after id Software was already acquired by Bethesda Softworks. Doom is highly anticipated game by a large community of gamers. It is highly demanded and has excellent sales potential.
Recore
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Comcept
Platforms: Xbox One
Release Date: 2016
Recore is Microsoft’s new IP developed by Comcept. The game was revealed in 2015 and is scheduled for release in late 2016. There is still not enough information about the game though from what is known it seems it may have good sale potential.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Guerrilla Games
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Release Date: 2016
Horizon Zero Dawn is Sony’s new game developed by Guerrilla Games, the first intellectual property developed by Guerrilla since Killzone in 2004. The game is set in the future, 1000 years from now, the human civilization has long abandoned Earth since it has been concurred by robots. The development of the game started in 2011, it was officially announced in E3 2015, the release date is not set yet. The game has strong selling potential.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Eidos Montreal
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 05 April 2016
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a sequel to Square Enix Deus Ex series. The previous Deus Ex: Human Revolution released in 2011. The current game initially had a tiered reward levels, from tier 1 to tier 5 during pre-order, which later was abandoned because of controversy it has caused. The game is releasing at the end of August and has strong selling potential.
Quantum Break
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Platforms: Xbox One
Release Date: 05 April 2016
Quantum Break is a new Microsoft’s game about breaking up the time continuum. Two protagonists get some time related powers, one can see the future the other can stop the time. Interesting fiction by Remedy Entertainment, developed in consultation with scientists at CERN. The game includes digital episodes connected with the players choices. The release is in early April, the game is expected to have decent demand.
The Legend of Zelda Wii U
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Platforms: Wii-U
Release Date: 04/03/2016
The Legend of Zelda for Wii-U is 2016 release of Nintendo’s famous The Legend of Zelda series. It is the nineteenth installment of the game series and the first one in HD format. It is considered to be one of the most anticipated games of this year by different video game publications, and already has high rate of pre-orders. Excellent selling potential.
No Man’s Sky
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Hello Games
Platforms: PS4
Release Date: 2016
No Man’s Sky is the only Indie development in the list. Developed by indie studio Hello Games, No Man’s Sky has caused significant interest. Players are free to explore the entirety of a computer generated open universe, which includes over 18 quintillion (1.8×1019) planets. The virtual world, generated by computer using sophisticated algorithms including procedural generation system. The scale and ambition of the game created a steady demand, the game is a seller.
Mafia III
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Hangar 13
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 2016
Mafia 3 is the 2016 release of 2K Games’ Mafia game series. The previous Mafia II released in 2010 and was quite successful, selling over 3 million units. Mafia III is set in 1968 in New Orleans. The current release is the first in Mafia series to be set in a real-world location, the previous releases were all set in fictional locations. The game is expected to have demand and provide decent sales.
Fifa 17
Publisher: EA Games
Developer: EA Canada
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release Date: 2016
Traditionally releasing in September, Electronic Arts’ all recent FIFA games become big hits. Fifa games usually take the top first or second positions of the best selling video games chart, and stay within top three throughout the whole year. Pre-orders for FIFA start well in advance, as soon as the game becomes available for pre-orders as all traders want to get involved in selling such highly demanded item. This year’s game of the series, Fifa 17 has not been officially announced yet, but it is one of the two games of the year that can be confidently pre-ordered in large quantities for stock.
Call of Duty (2016)
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Infinity Ward
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: 2016
Call of Duty traditionally releases in November, and together with Fifa these two games can be safely assumed as the definite favorites and should be pre-ordered in large quantities. The previous release, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 has done very well and is still on top of the charts. This year’s Call of Duty would most probably be in the Warfare series, it may be a sequel to Advanced Warfare released in 2014 or could be a reboot. In any case, as soon as it gets announced and becomes available, it’s time to pre-order it in large quantities.
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