GamesIndustry.biz

During the December 2025 holiday season, the landscape of video game revenues was notably shaped by live service games. Arc Raiders stood out with remarkable performance, dominating Newzoo’s charts across major European markets and the United States. Conversely, traditionally strong franchise entries like Call of Duty and Battlefield faced challenges in maintaining their usual supremacy. Call of Duty dropped to the No. 5 spot, while Battlefield, despite being the top-selling game in the US for 2025, fell to No. 8. Analysts noted that Battlefield 6’s strong launch momentum was difficult to sustain throughout the season.
Overall, new game releases saw a promising growth of 21.5% year-over-year, spurred by significant new launches. Meanwhile, subscription services played a pivotal role in driving up US video game spending, which reached $5.9 billion in December, marking a 3% increase compared to the previous year. Subscription services alone experienced a robust 24% rise, underscoring an industry shift towards this model.
The success story of 2025 was not limited to new releases and subscription upticks. The Fallout franchise experienced a 42% increase in monthly active users following the second season premiere of the Amazon series, though this was modest compared to the 500% increase witnessed after the first season premiere.
In terms of hardware, Nintendo Switch 2 emerged as the top-selling system, while Roblox made waves as the leading publisher with a 16% year-over-year growth. Player engagement also highlighted the continued popularity of certain games, with Fortnite maintaining its grip on a substantial portion of PlayStation and Xbox users.
December’s overall sales charts reflected a dynamic period for the industry, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 securing the top spot for the month. As publishers and developers analyze these outcomes, the interplay between traditional game formats and emerging live service and subscription models seems poised to shape future industry strategies.

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Live service games dominated the December 2025 holiday season, with Arc Raiders leading charts while traditional franchises Call of Duty and Battlefield struggled to maintain their usual market positions. New game releases grew 21.5% year-over-year, and subscription services drove a 24% increase in revenue, reaching $5.9 billion in US spending. Nintendo Switch 2 became the top-selling hardware, while Roblox led as publisher with 16% growth. The shift toward live service and subscription models is reshaping industry strategies away from traditional game formats.

Call of Duty and Battlefield Struggle Amidst Live Service Dominance in Holiday 2025