GTA 6 could take millions of players away from popular games when it launches. The hype around the game is massive, and a recent study by Open World has revealed that Call of Duty, Battlefield, Apex Legends, Fortnite, EA Sports FC, and NBA 2K could face a drop in player activity after the Rockstar title drops on November 19.
The study has considered opinions of players who had played earlier games and are looking forward to diving into the upcoming one. It found that 69% of PC and console gamers intend to play the new title. This points to strong interest ahead of its launch.
Now, for those who are curious why Counter-Strike 2 is out of the list, that’s because the game isn’t available on console, and PC players aren’t getting GTA 6 any sooner. Notably, the excitement around GTA 6 is already clear. The game offers a large open world, fast cars, crime missions, and the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Many players may want to spend hours in its world rather than return to games they already play each day. This could put pressure on other titles, even if they offer a different style of play. However, the effect will depend on how long players stay with GTA 6 after its launch.
Studying the trend, Open World has suggested that developers must restrain themselves from releasing any major expansion or update during the window when GTA 6 will come out. It stated, “Keep enough activity in the market to support existing players, and save the strongest re-engagement push for when attention starts to normalize.”
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One Big Game Can Change Gaming Habits
Players have limited free time. Even games from different genres compete for the same hours after work or school. A major release can lead players to pause their usual games and try something new. This puts pressure on the existing games on the market. However, after a period, fresh content, new events, and better rewards may help bring players back to those titles.
GTA 6 could steal the spotlight at launch, but its impact may not last. Other games still have loyal fans. Their success will depend on giving players enough reasons to return once the excitement around GTA 6 settles.