The groundbreaking open-world Harry Potter action-RPG, Hogwarts Legacy, has made history by breaking a remarkable 14-year streak. It has officially secured the title of the best-selling new video game release of 2023, marking the first instance in which a title not belonging to Call of Duty or Rockstar Games has claimed this position since 2008. Hogwarts Legacy, which garnered positive reviews and achieved record-breaking sales upon its release in February, had been widely anticipated as the top-selling game of the year well before hitting store shelves.
The anticipation and hype surrounding Hogwarts Legacy were truly immense. The prospect of an open-world game set in the Hogwarts universe was considered a “dream game” by many, and the inclusion of the beloved Harry Potter IP meant it appealed to both hardcore gamers and the more casual Harry Potter enthusiasts. This dual appeal allowed Hogwarts Legacy to surpass Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, securing its position as the best-selling game of 2023.
Mat Piscatella, sharing data on the top 10 best-selling video games of 2023, revealed that Hogwarts Legacy was followed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Madden NFL 24, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Diablo 4, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Mortal Kombat 1, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and EA Sports FC 24. Notably, since 2009, the best-selling game each year has been dominated by either Call of Duty or Rockstar, with the exception of 2013 when Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto 5 and 2018 when Rockstar launched Red Dead Redemption 2.
Best-Selling Games of 2023 List
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
- Madden NFL 24
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Diablo 4
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- EA Sports FC 24
Apart from the immense anticipation and the substantial Harry Potter fanbase it attracted, Hogwarts Legacy achieved its status as the best-selling game of 2023 for various reasons. Firstly, its early release in the year allowed it to remain on the market longer than Modern Warfare 3. Additionally, Hogwarts Legacy reached a broader audience by being accessible on the Nintendo Switch, unlike Modern Warfare 3, which was limited to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles.
The strategic release schedule of Hogwarts Legacy likely contributed to its sustained sales throughout the year. The game initially debuted on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, with ports for PS4 and Xbox One released a few months later. Finally, Hogwarts Legacy expanded its reach to the Nintendo Switch in November, ensuring availability on the third-best selling video game console just in time for the significant holiday shopping season.
As 2024 progresses, Hogwarts Legacy is expected to continue performing well, though its inclusion in the top 10 best-selling games of the year, similar to Modern Warfare 2 in 2022, remains uncertain. Meanwhile, fans can anticipate more Harry Potter games from WB in the future.
Suggested Read: PlayStation Bans IShowSpeed
