STRATEGY
Gaming. Is anything going to change?
9TH APRIL 2026
With the news that the top 5 most-played games (on Xbox & PlayStation) in 2025 were the same as in 2024 in the US, it does beg the question as to whether anything will change. To try and answer that question, we’ll need to first think about what’s causing gamers to carry on playing the same games with the same amount of vigour, year in & year out.
The power of Multiplayer
Unsurprisingly, that top 5 list comprises the usual suspects: Fortnite, Call of Duty, GTA V, Roblox & Minecraft – all games which have a large multiplayer element. We know from the pandemic’s boom in online multiplayer, that this popularity is about more than the game itself – it’s about the ability to socialise & connect with friends regardless of where they are, in a setting that is fun, informal & notably (almost) free. Whilst we’re in turbulent times (both economically & geopolitically), it seems that this way of socialising & relaxing will only continue.
Infinite replay-ability
All 5 of these games rely heavily on their live service elements to help keep the games feeling fresh. This constant evolution of the game, with games becoming tailored towards the wants & desires of the gamers themselves, means that these games can always feel fresh & new. If you compare this to 20 years ago, when it was almost inevitable that you would be able to complete a game, it’s no surprise that with almost endless possibilities, gamers are sticking to these games like glue.
The role of nostalgia
Many of these games were also the first games that newer gamers ever played, and due to their flexibility & endless possibilities, the games have also grown up with these gamers. Compare the very first version of Minecraft with the versions that are played now, cute graphics aside, the most recent Bedrock 1.21 is a much richer & fully fledged immersive world that gamers can enjoy (both online with others, and on their own). The notable thing to think about is the fact that Minecraft has remained true to that original, cute graphic style, which in turn leverages nostalgia quite powerfully with these gamers.
Will this list change?
This is a big question to answer, but fundamentally, I would say yes. We’re already beginning to see warning signs that a gamer’s popularity may not last forever – just look at the poor sales of Black Ops 7, for example. If a new entrant is able to leverage all 3 of these aspects (multiplayer, infinite replay-ability & nostalgia), then they’d be in with a good chance to contend.
