In July, the video‑game market was largely driven by a wave of remakes and re‑releases, and the data compiled by analytics firm Newzoo highlights how this trend translated into robust revenue figures across both PC and console platforms. The most notable performer was Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, which secured a second‑place finish on the PC revenue chart and a fourth‑place slot on the console chart, underscoring the strong appetite among gamers for refreshed versions of beloved classics.
This title marks the first full‑scale remake within the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and Newzoo’s senior market analyst Mert Şahin pointed out that the game’s solid performance is a clear indicator of the commercial potential that can still be unlocked from established IPs. "Remakes have the unique ability to blend the nostalgic familiarity that long‑time fans cherish with meaningful technical and design upgrades," Şahin explained. "When executed well, they can attract both veteran players and newcomers who may have missed the original release, thereby expanding the audience base and generating fresh revenue streams." Black Flag Resynced’s success is reflected in its placement on Newzoo’s year‑to‑date Top 20 new games by revenue list, where it sits at No. 9.
By comparison, another title that made the list, Halo: Campaign Evolved, appears at No. 20, illustrating the competitive nature of the market and the particular strength of high‑profile remakes. The July charts also featured several notable ports of the Call of Duty franchise.
Both Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 were quietly introduced to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 ecosystems, a strategy often referred to as “shadow‑dropping.” These ports performed impressively, capturing the sixth and first positions, respectively, on the console revenue rankings. Şahin remarked that while Black Flag Resynced demonstrates how a substantial overhaul can revitalize an older game, the Call of Duty results show that even straightforward ports—games that receive minimal changes beyond platform compatibility—can still generate significant commercial momentum. "These cases illustrate two distinct but complementary approaches to leveraging a back‑catalogue," Şahin said.
"A deep remake can reposition an older title for a modern audience, delivering new graphics, refined gameplay mechanics, and often additional content. In contrast, a simple re‑release or port can reignite demand with relatively low development costs, especially when the original game already enjoys strong brand recognition." Beyond the Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty entries, July also saw the emergence of Palworld, a game that transitioned out of early‑access status and entered the PC revenue chart at the fifth spot. Newzoo highlighted Palworld’s business model—an upfront purchase without microtransactions or paid DLC—as a factor that concentrated most of its earnings on new player acquisition rather than ongoing in‑game spending.
The title’s full release, dubbed Palworld 1.0, also earned a place at No. 19 on the year‑to‑date Top 20 new games by revenue, indicating that a single‑purchase model can still thrive in a market increasingly dominated by live‑service and freemium structures. The monthly active user (MAU) metrics for consoles revealed another interesting trend: Grand Theft Auto V climbed two spots in the ranking. Newzoo attributed this rise to heightened interest surrounding the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, spurred by a surge in pre‑order activity and the launch of the new "The Kortz Centre Heist" update on GTA Online.
This demonstrates how real‑world events—such as announcements of sequels or major content drops—can have a spill‑over effect on legacy titles, driving renewed engagement and revenue. Overall, Şahin summed up the July landscape by noting that publishers have multiple levers to generate fresh momentum around established franchises. "Timely in‑game events, coordinated real‑world marketing pushes, and strategic use of remakes, re‑releases, and lifecycle extensions all contribute to creating new commercial opportunities across both PC and console ecosystems," he said. Newzoo shared the detailed rankings exclusively with GamesIndustry.biz, presenting the Top 20 PC games by revenue across key regions—including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy—for June 2026, as well as the corresponding Top 20 console titles.
These lists provide a granular view of how regional preferences and platform choices influence overall market performance, offering valuable insights for developers and publishers seeking to optimize their release strategies in an increasingly competitive environment.