Summer Game Showcases: Zelda, Doom, and Astro Bot Lead the Pack in Wishlists

The latest update from IGN Playlist reveals that The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Astro Bot have garnered the most wishlists following the recent summer game showcases. This data, which spans the last four weeks, offers insight into the gaming community's interests and preferences. It's essential to note, however, that these rankings shouldn't be seen as a definitive indicator of future sales, as factors like release dates and prior wishlist numbers can influence the outcomes. The top three games, for instance, have varying release schedules, with some titles having less time to accumulate wishlists compared to others. Additionally, the list only accounts for games featured in the showcases and new wishlists generated during this period, excluding existing wishlists for games like GTA 6, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Fable. Despite these considerations, the data provides a snapshot of what resonated with players over the last few weeks, including some surprises like Perfect Dark's strong showing. The new Zelda title, announced during Nintendo Direct, has quickly risen to the top, offering a fresh top-down perspective and the opportunity to play as Zelda for the first time. Doom: The Dark Ages impressed during Xbox's showcase, likely benefiting from its confirmed release on PS5, which expands its potential player base. Astro Bot, initially leading after its reveal at Sony's State of Play, has slipped to third but may still prove to be a sleeper hit, given its connection to the well-received Astro's Playroom tech demo that comes with every PS5. The data also highlights the interest in Astro Bot, which may have been unexpected given Sony's earlier statement about not releasing major new titles based on existing IP this year. However, as the successor to Astro's Playroom, which has been exposed to a large audience through its inclusion with the PS5, Astro Bot may leverage this existing interest. The top ten list is dominated by games from Xbox's showcase, with Doom: The Dark Ages and Gears of War: E-Day following closely. It's worth noting that this chart favors newly announced games, as they have had less time to accumulate wishlists prior to the showcases. Other notable entries include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a new IP from Sandfall Interactive, and indie games like Mixtape and Neva, which have garnered significant interest. Overall, while sequels dominate the top spots, there's a notable presence of new IP in the list, indicating a diverse range of interests among gamers. As the summer game showcases continue and more information becomes available, these rankings may evolve, providing further insights into the gaming community's preferences.