For years, video game developers have been scheduling new games to release every year, and the trend seems to be growing as more and more companies find success copying the strategy.

     Games such as NBA 2K and Call of Duty have led the way for the use of yearly releases, however, many fans have become tired of buying similar games every year. One series that has faced criticism is Madden, with fans saying that they’re paying $60 every year for a roster update, and not much else.

     With so many complaints, it seems obvious to many that the easiest solution would be to release a single game, rather than one every year. Doing so would get rid of the disappointment players feel when they receive a new game that feels exactly like last year’s title.

     Along with fixing repetitive releases, a one-time release would open up possibilities for a smoother game. Without having to worry about next year’s release, developers could focus on the current game, and fix any problems quicker.

     So why don’t companies listen to the fans and release a single game, instead of a new one every year? I believe it’s because of the money they would be losing. These same companies that everybody’s unhappy about are breaking sales records every year, and show no signs of slowing down.

     2020 was a historic year for the NBA 2K and Madden series. Madden 20 had the highest final week of pre-orders in franchise history (Business Wire), while NBA 2K20 had one of the biggest launches of 2019, beating games like Borderlands 3 and Mortal Kombat 11 in sales. 

     It’s hard to argue against a yearly release, especially after seeing the wild success both games have. Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine them changing the system they’ve been using for so long, and missing out on a ton of money while doing so, meaning we’ll have to deal with yearly releases for the near future.