Welcome back to the Fancensus Spotlight, your look at all things marketplace momentum in the video game universe! If you’re reading this, congratulate yourself for being curious about how to win in today’s attention economy. With the gaming industry chasing nearly $200 billion this year and player power rewriting the rules overnight, your curiosity is exactly what fuels the stories, stats, and strategies that turn games into digital sensations. Read on to see how this week’s deals, press, and viral moments are turning industry trends upside-down.
Console Discoverability: Deals Section Only
It was a blockbuster week for deals across both Xbox and PlayStation stores, with spooky season sales taking centre stage. On Xbox, Resident Evil 4 Remake led the charge with a perfect 100 Flare, heavily promoted across Shocktober sale banners and multiple deal page placements. Alan Wake 2 (98) and Dragon’s Dogma 2 (96) joined the front row, keeping the chills rolling. Newcomers Hell Is Us and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (both 94) rounded out Xbox’s discoverability leaders, all grouped together in high-impact discounts that had gamers filling their digital carts.
PlayStation took a broader approach, pushing a diverse lineup through eye-catching deals. Destiny 2 (100) stood tall thanks to its “Year of the Prophecy” edition sales event. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (91) and EA Sports FC 26 (90) got strategic banner placements with attractive discounts, while Test Drive: Unlimited Solar Crown (37) and indie sleeper Who’s Your Daddy (36) drove engagement through deep PS Plus deals and exclusive offers.
Press & Social
Hades 2 (43) surged in Twitch popularity as thousands tuned in for streams, Skyyart alone drew over 300k views, while press interest spiked on news of the first major patch before the Switch 2 release. Football Manager 26 (33) drummed up attention ahead of launch as beta streaming filled Twitch and reviewers shared early takes. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero (28) proves even seasoned franchises can strike social gold with strong creator and community engagement. With its Switch and Switch 2 release looming, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero ranked 2nd on Youtube and 3rd on Tiktok as gameplay videos still attract major eyeballs over a year after its launch. Nascar 25 (22) rounded out the top five with particular interest being shown on TikTok and twitch for due to the Nascar 25 creator series.
Title Spotlight: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Black Ops 7 continues its pre-launch blitz with unshakeable press and social dominance. Last week, over 400 headlines (down slightly from the previous week’s frenzy) kept speculation alive especially as updates about release dates and the absence of early access grabbed attention. Every new trailer drew fresh waves of hype, while direct competitors like Arc Raiders and Battlefield 6 ramped up the anticipation for a November showdown.
Social engagement didn’t miss a beat: Chef Etchebest’s cameo went viral on TikTok, Treyarch’s dev talk drew 700k X views, and zombies mode features sparked passionate conversation across all major platforms. Pre-launch Twitch streams titled “Waiting for Black Ops 7” topped viewership charts, showing fans are counting the days and building momentum in real time.
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