Sony and Xbox Dominated Players in 2025

Key Takeaways

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In 2025, Sonys PlayStation and Xbox Game Studios dominated in playtime data and media attention, with Xbox seeing fewer mentions compared to 2024 but remaining significant.
Nintendo, boosted by the launch of the Switch 2, experienced a notable increase in media attention, with Xbox and Nintendo each placing two games among the most completed games of the year.
Independent game productions, such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Dispatch, and Hades 2, gained popularity and were among the most completed games in 2025.
Games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, Elden Ring, The Last of Us Part II, God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnarok, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 captivated players in 2025, showcasing the appeal of both new releases and enduring favorites.

Leading Publishers Shake Up in 2025: Sony, Xbox, Nintendo, Nvidia Rise in Media Attention

In 2025, PlayStation and Xbox Game Studios topped How Long to Beat’s (HLtB) list of leading game publishers and developers, based on the site’s playtime data. Nintendo earned GamesIndustry.biz’s award for the most-discussed gaming company that year. GamesIndustry.biz also reported the top 15 game publishers and developers of 2025: [list of specific numbers and companies]. Although Xbox saw fewer media mentions compared to 2024, it remained a significant player in the video game industry. Nintendo, reportedly boosted by the launch of the Switch 2, experienced a 30.10% increase in media attention. Nvidia, SEGA, Rockstar Games, and EA also saw improved coverage; Rockstar and EA both increased their presence by over 50%. Media coverage of Activision Blizzard decreased by 34.59%.

Most Completed Games of 2025: Xbox Shines with Four Titles, Plus Independent Gems and Nintendo Hits

According to HLtB’s end-of-year lists, Xbox and Nintendo each placed two games among the most completed. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle topped HLtB’s list of most-played games not launched in 2025, giving Xbox a presence on that chart as well. DOOM: The Dark Ages and South of Midnight, both from Xbox, appeared prominently among the most completed games of 2025. PlayStation placed five games among the most completed, but all (The Last of Us Part II, God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnarok, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2) were released in previous years. Nintendo included Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza on the most completed list. Reflecting the growing influence of independent productions, indie games such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Dispatch, and Hades 2 also appeared. These were the most completed games of 2025: 1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 2. Hollow Knight: Silksong 3. Donkey Kong Bananza 4. DOOM: The Dark Ages 5. Dispatch 6. Monster Hunter Wilds 7. Mario Kart World 8. Silent Hill f 9. South of Midnight 10. Hades 2 HLtB also published a list of best games not released in 2025: 1. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Top Games Captivating Players in 2025

2. Hollow Knight 3. Cyberpunk 2077 4. Red Dead Redemption 2 5. Elden Ring 6. The Last of Us Part II 7. God of War 8. Ghost of Tsushima 9. God of War Ragnarok 10. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 These lists highlight the games that resonated most with players in 2025, both new releases and enduring favorites.

In Case You Missed It

Intrigued by the gaming trends of 2025? Ahmed Hassan’s recent analysis, “Several Game Pass Debuts Among 2025’s Most Abandoned,” published on December 29th, is a must-read. Diving into How Long to Beat’s end-of-year list revealing the most abandoned games, Hassan explores why titles like Persona 5: The Phantom X and others struggled to keep players engaged despite being easily accessible on Game Pass Several Game Pass Debuts Among 2025’s Most Abandoned. But that’s not all! In an intriguing turn of events, Jonathan Dubinski explores the potential future of gaming console prices in his recent article, “PS5 May Become More Expensive in 2026,” also published on December 29th. Delving into the implications of ongoing component shortages and rising RAM costs, Dubinski suggests that we might see another price hike for our beloved PS5 by 2026 PS5 May Become More Expensive in 2026. And if you’re eager to dive into the latest gaming experiences, brace yourself! Bruno Pferd’s latest post, “PS6 Release May Be Delayed,” published on December 29th, explores the potential impact of soaring RAM costs on the release dates of both Sony and Microsoft’s next-gen consoles, suggesting a possible delay beyond 2027-2028 PS6 Release May Be Delayed. Stay informed about how industry trends could shape the future of gaming!