In July, the video‑game marketplace was heavily influenced by a wave of remakes and re‑releases, a trend that was clearly reflected in the revenue charts compiled by Newzoo. Among the standout performers was the newly updated version of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, titled Black Flag Resynced, which secured a second‑place finish on the PC revenue list and a fourth‑place slot on the console revenue list. This achievement marks the first time a title from the Assassin’s Creed franchise has been positioned as a remake, and it underscores the enduring financial appeal that classic games can retain when they are thoughtfully refreshed for modern hardware and audiences. Mert Şahin, a senior analyst at Newzoo, highlighted the significance of Black Flag Resynced’s performance, noting that the game’s strong showing “demonstrates the commercial potential that can remain with established titles.” In his view, the success of a remake lies in its ability to blend the nostalgia and familiarity that long‑time fans cherish with substantive updates that make the experience feel fresh and relevant.
By preserving the core narrative and gameplay loops that made the original Black Flag a beloved entry in the series, while simultaneously introducing improved graphics, refined mechanics, and quality‑of‑life enhancements, Ubisoft was able to attract both returning players and newcomers who had not previously engaged with the 2013 release. The broader data set from Newzoo reinforces the idea that remakes can serve as powerful revenue generators. Black Flag Resynced was ranked ninth on Newzoo’s year‑to‑date Top 20 new games by revenue, a notable placement given the intense competition from brand‑new releases across multiple platforms. By contrast, Halo: Campaign Evolved, another title that leverages an existing intellectual property, settled at the twentieth spot, illustrating that while legacy‑based projects can thrive, their success often hinges on the depth of the overhaul and the market’s appetite for the particular franchise.
July also saw the continued dominance of the Call of Duty franchise, albeit through a different strategy. Ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 were quietly introduced to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, a process referred to by Newzoo as “shadow‑dropping.” These ports achieved impressive positions in the console revenue rankings, landing at sixth and first place respectively. Şahin commented on this juxtaposition, stating that while Black Flag Resynced showcases the upside of a substantial, modernized remake, the Call of Duty results demonstrate that even relatively straightforward ports—games that require minimal changes beyond platform compatibility—can generate considerable commercial momentum.
This duality highlights two viable pathways for publishers looking to monetize back‑catalogues: deep, transformative remakes that reposition older titles for a contemporary audience, and simpler re‑releases that capitalize on established demand with modest development effort. Beyond these high‑profile franchises, the July charts also featured other noteworthy entries.
Palworld, a quirky creature‑collecting survival game, exited its early‑access phase and entered the PC revenue chart at the fifth position. Newzoo emphasized that Palworld’s revenue model—being a single‑purchase title without microtransactions or paid downloadable content—means that most of its earnings stem from new players discovering the game for the first time. The title also debuted at nineteenth on the year‑to‑date Top 20 new games by revenue, indicating that a well‑executed launch can quickly propel a game into the upper echelons of the market, even without the ongoing monetisation streams that many modern titles rely on. The monthly active user (MAU) figures for consoles also revealed interesting dynamics.
Grand Theft Auto V, a long‑standing bestseller, climbed two spots in the console MAU rankings. Newzoo attributed this rise to heightened interest in the upcoming GTA VI, spurred by a wave of pre‑order activity and the release of a new in‑game heist—The Kortz Centre Heist—on GTA Online.
This example illustrates how real‑world events, such as announcements of sequels or major content updates, can have a spill‑over effect that boosts engagement with older titles in a franchise. Overall, Şahin summed up July’s landscape by emphasizing the versatility of strategies that publishers can employ to reinvigorate legacy content. "July’s PC and console rankings show how publishers can create fresh momentum around established games and franchises," he said.
"Timely in‑game and real‑world events lifted engagement, while remakes, re‑releases, and lifecycle transitions generated new commercial opportunities across PC and console." The data presented here is drawn from Newzoo’s exclusive partnership with GamesIndustry.biz, which provided detailed breakdowns of the top‑20 PC games by revenue across major markets—including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy—for June 2026, as well as the corresponding top‑20 console titles. While the full tables are not reproduced in this summary, they illustrate the diverse mix of new launches, remastered classics, and strategic ports that together shaped the revenue landscape in July. The overarching takeaway for developers and publishers is clear: whether through ambitious remakes that overhaul a classic experience or through more modest re‑releases that simply broaden platform availability, there remains significant commercial upside in revisiting and revitalising existing IPs. By aligning these efforts with strategic marketing, community engagement, and timely content updates, companies can unlock new streams of income from games that might otherwise be considered past their prime.