Hogwarts Legacy, the much-anticipated role-playing game set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter, has made a strong entrance into the gaming industry.
According to journalist Christopher Dring of GamesIndustry.biz, the game has exceeded all expectations and has already outsold Elden Ring, another highly anticipated title, on the European digital market during its debut week.
Dring has noted that the success of Hogwarts Legacy is particularly remarkable since it is rare for a new gaming franchise to perform so well, especially when it is not part of a well-established franchise like Call of Duty or FIFA. In fact, Dring highlights that this is the best launch in this area for a title outside these brands since the release of Red Dead Redemption 2.
It is worth noting Dring’s observation that gamers often prefer to stick with well-known franchises, rather than taking risks on new and untested titles. This phenomenon mirrors what we see in other media such as television.
However, it is important to recognize that this may not necessarily reflect a lack of adventurousness on the part of gamers, but rather a reflection of the significant investment of time and money required to explore new gaming worlds.
The digital data is in. Hogwarts Legacy's opening week was 56% bigger across Europe than Elden Ring. It's the biggest game launch outside of FIFA & Call of Duty since Red Dead Redemption 2.
It backs up the theory that gamers are gravitating towards the big brands at the moment
— Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) February 16, 2023
Dring went on to explain on Twitter that the impressive success of Hogwarts Legacy is all the more remarkable when considering the outstanding launch of Elden Ring in 2022.
Elden Ring is a game that was eagerly awaited by gamers and saw a launch comparable to those of other established franchises such as Pokémon and Fallout.
The fact that Hogwarts Legacy has managed to surpass Elden Ring in its debut week is a significant achievement and speaks volumes about the game’s potential to establish itself as a major player in the gaming industry.
