Gaming
37.5+ million copies of Xbox’s best-selling games wasted, according to fans
Microsoft recently released their earnings report for quarter three, revealing that their profits for Xbox content and services have increased a whopping 34% this quarter. Despite this, they claim to have never made a profit from selling the consoles themselves, meaning most of this profit is made from the sales of games. This led ManySpins to investigate exactly how satisfied gamers are with the games they purchase from Xbox.
Using a list of the 20 best-selling Xbox One games, they used Metacritic’s user score to find out exactly what players thought of the games they had purchased. Metacritic’s user scores range from 0-10, with higher scores indicating better reviews from the gaming community.
Xbox One’s best-selling games that disappointed fans most:
| Xbox One Game | Number of Copies Sold Worldwide | User Score (Metacritic) | Number of copies potentially wasted | |
| #1 | PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds | 8 million | 49% | 4,080,000 |
| #2 | Call of Duty: Black Ops III | 7.37 million | 46% | 3,979,800 |
| #3 | Call of Duty: WWII | 6.23 million | 43% | 3,551,100 |
| #4 | Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare | 4.79 million | 38% | 2,969,800 |
| #5 | Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | 5.22 million | 55% | 2,349,000 |
| #6 | Star Wars Battlefront | 4.14 million | 45% | 2,277,000 |
| #7 | Assassin’s Creed Unity | 3.58 million | 45% | 1,969,000 |
| #8 | Grand Theft Auto V | 8.72 million | 79% | 1,831,200 |
| #9 | FIFA 17 | 3.71 million | 52% | 1,780,800 |
| #10 | Halo 5: Guardians | 4.92 million | 64% | 1,771,200 |
ManySpins can reveal the game with the most copies potentially wasted is PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. The game has sold a total of 8 million copies so far, but with only 49% of players happy with their purchase, around 4 million copies have been wasted.
Call of Duty games claim spots 2 to 5 of the most wasted games, with a grand total of nearly 13 million copies wasted between the four games. COD is known for being expensive as part of Xbox’s triple A games, and as there are now 24 COD games, it is easy to see how Microsoft could be more focussed on profits rather than quality gaming.
Coming sixth is Star Wars Battlefront, and with just 45% of players happy with the game that means an estimated 2.2 million copies went to waste. Eighth is Grand Theft Auto V with approximately 1.8 million copies wasted, followed by FIFA 17 in ninth (estimated 1.7 million copies wasted).
Rounding up the top 10 most disappointing Xbox One games is Halo 5: Guardians. Selling a grand total of 4.9 million copies and with a score of 64%, around 1.7 million copies of this game were potentially wasted on unhappy customers.
Kevin Roos, expert from ManySpins.com said: “Many of Xbox’s games are £50-60 on release, so despite making a loss on the consoles, Microsoft generates a lot of income through the sales of games and gaming passes. It’s not surprising that their profits have increased during the pandemic with more people spending longer at home and less time commuting.”
He added: “Microsoft knows that they can sell their consoles for a loss and still make money, especially if they keep bringing out new consoles meaning gamers have to purchase new versions of their games to continue playing.”
Methodology:
- ManySpins.com used Wikipedia’s list of ‘best-selling Xbox One games’ to find the 20 best-selling video games on Xbox One.
- They then searched each game on Metacritic to find the user score for each game, specifically the Xbox One editions.
- ManySpins.com then ranked the games from best to worst based on their Metacritic user score to find which best-selling Xbox Ones games players were most disappointed by.
- Number of copies potentially wasted was calculated by multiplying the games’ total sales from Wikipedia’s list by the percentage of negative reviews on Metacritic. These are approximate values only.
All data is correct as of 10/05/2021, but is subject to change.
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ARK: Survival Ascended
Best Game Server Hosting (2025): Nitrado Ranked Top Across Leading Games by Software Experts
Software Experts has recognized Nitrado as the leading choice in its 2025 feature on the best game server hosting platforms. Nitrado was ranked highly across major titles such as Minecraft, ARK: Survival Ascended, and DayZ.
Nitrado delivers scalable and reliable server hosting solutions for a wide range of online multiplayer games. The demand for high-quality game server hosting has increased as online multiplayer games have grown in scale and complexity. Expansions, downloadable content (DLC), and frequent updates have placed pressure on server infrastructure, requiring providers to deliver stability, fast updates, and community integration. For players of ARK, Minecraft, or DayZ, server downtime can result in lost progress, interruptions to group play, and diminished gaming experiences.
This trend underscores why a strong hosting partner is essential. Servers are not only responsible for keeping games online but also for supporting the evolving needs of large player communities. Nitrado has consistently aligned its platform with these expectations, offering infrastructure that adapts to both technical requirements and user demand.
Recognition Across Key Games
Software Experts noted that Nitrado has demonstrated consistent support for popular titles through timely hosting updates and tools designed for specific gameplay environments.
Minecraft hosting: With the release of the Minecraft 1.21 Tricky Trials update, Nitrado provided immediate server support, allowing players to explore new dungeons and mechanics without interruption.
ARK hosting: Nitrado servers were prepared for the Ragnarok Map in ARK: Survival Ascended and are optimized for the upcoming Aquatica DLC, ensuring survival experiences remain stable even with expansive maps and mods.
DayZ hosting: Survival titles demand persistence and uptime. Expansions such as Frostline and the upcoming Badlands were supported rapidly on Nitrado servers, enabling players to adapt to environmental changes without server disruption.
Expansion to Broader Multiplayer Titles
The recognition also emphasized Nitrado’s versatility beyond the most popular titles. In 7 Days to Die, the recent Storms Brewing update was supported on Nitrado servers at launch, giving players stable access to new weather and survival mechanics. For Conan Exiles, the platform has offered guidance on server setups such as best base locations, combined with reliable performance during intensive multiplayer sessions. In Enshrouded, Nitrado integrated the Melodies of the Mire update directly into its hosting framework, ensuring smooth adoption of new classes and gameplay features.
By covering a range of genres, Nitrado provides infrastructure that extends beyond traditional survival titles, positioning itself as a multi-game hosting solution.
Tools and Community Integrations
Software Experts also highlighted Nitrado’s focus on server management tools and community features. The platform’s web interface and mobile applications allow administrators to adjust settings with minimal technical complexity, from rolling back Minecraft worlds to tuning difficulty levels in ARK.
Support for mods and plugins further enhances gameplay. Communities can integrate texture packs, maps, and total conversions without complicated manual setups. This has proven especially useful in titles with active modding cultures, including ARK and Minecraft.
Nitrado also integrates with platforms such as Discord, creating a unified environment where players can coordinate matches, share updates, and stay connected. These integrations have become increasingly important as multiplayer gaming extends beyond gameplay into community interaction.
Performance and Reliability
Reliability remains a core measure of success in server hosting. Software Experts reported that Nitrado’s global infrastructure of data centers reduces latency for players across regions. Built-in protections such as DDoS mitigation ensure that servers remain stable against external threats.
Performance is measured in player experiences rather than technical specifications. Large Minecraft builds, ARK raids with high player counts, or DayZ survival sessions all require servers capable of managing demand without lag or interruption. Nitrado has consistently met these requirements, providing stability for both small private groups and larger multiplayer communities.
The recognition comes at a time when server hosting has become critical to the success of modern games. The rise of live-service models, frequent DLC releases, and growing player bases has made infrastructure a competitive differentiator. Hosting platforms that can update quickly, manage new expansions, and support community tools are essential for maintaining engagement.
For players, this translates into uninterrupted sessions and reliable access to content. For developers, it ensures that game updates are supported with minimal disruption. Software Experts’ analysis noted that Nitrado’s approach positions it well within this broader industry context.
Nitrado’s recognition by Software Experts as the leader in best game server hosting reflects its consistent performance across multiple titles, timely integration of expansions and updates, and investment in tools that support both administrators and communities.
As online communities expand and games evolve, the importance of reliability, performance, and community integration will only increase. Nitrado’s ability to address these needs underscores why it was recognized as a top choice for 2025.
The post Best Game Server Hosting (2025): Nitrado Ranked Top Across Leading Games by Software Experts appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
The former Founder and CEO of Grover Gaming has officially launched a new brand in land-based gaming. Named by combining the names of his daughters, Valicy Gaming was unveiled during a recent company launch party held in Greenville, North Carolina.
Evolving from Grover Gaming—which was recently sold to Light & Wonder for a total consideration of $1.05 billion —Valicy will now focus on becoming a major manufacturer in land-based gaming across North America. Retaining a majority of the employees from the acquisition, Valicy will continue forward with a veteran team that will have a sharper focus on game development and hardware design.
Despite the name change, Valicy continues under the same experienced executive leadership team and remains dedicated to providing best-in-class customer service and technical support—qualities customers have come to depend on. The company’s values, represented by its CARE triangle—People, Company, and Work—are deeply rooted in its culture and will remain central to its mission moving forward.
The public debut of the Valicy brand will take place at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, October 6–9, at the Venetian Expo, Booth #1623, where the team will showcase its new identity and game offerings to casino partners and operators from across the industry.
“This is an exciting time for our teams,” said Garrett Blackwelder, Founder and CEO of Valicy. “We have the opportunity to do big things in new markets, which gives us energy and enthusiasm. As we grow Valicy, we will focus on relationships, excellence, and innovation.”
The post Valicy Gaming Launches as New Brand in Land-Based Gaming, Evolving from Grover Gaming appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Call of Duty
Monster Energy and Call of Duty Unite Again with Exclusive In-Game Rewards and Expanded Program Timing
Monster Energy is teaming up once again with Call of Duty to deliver bonus in-game rewards, bonus 2XP and an expanded promotional window that gives fans even more opportunities to fuel up and power their gameplay.
Gamers and Monster fans can start collecting codes to stockpile rewards ahead of the highly anticipated release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on November 14. Following the record-breaking success of the last year’s program – the 2025 campaign has been extended and will run through March 31, 2026, with code redemption available until April 30, 2026.
Players who purchase specially marked Call of Duty cans of Monster Energy, Monster Zero Sugar, or Monster Zero Ultra can find a unique code under the tab and redeem it online at callofduty.monsterenergy.com. Every can unlocks bonus in-game items and double experience points.
2025 in-game rewards include:
• 1 Can = “Energy Flash” Large Decal + 15 min 2XP
• 2 Cans = “Peacekeeper MK1 – Hyper Green” Weapon Blueprint + 15 min 2XP
• 3 Cans = “Green Fury” Operator Skin + 15 min 2XP
• 4 Cans = “VS Recon – Green Thunder” Weapon Blueprint + 15 min 2XP
• 5 Cans = “Daylight Ripper” Operator Skin Recolor + 15 min 2XP
In addition, select retailers will feature specialty bonus in-game content such as Emblems, Charms, Weapon Stickers, and Dual 2XP.
And as an added bonus, fans who create an account on callofduty.monsterenergy.com before October 31 will score a Black Ops 6 in-game skin – no purchase required.
“Monster Energy is built on fueling competitive spirit and our collaboration with Call of Duty continues to push that to new levels. With expanded timing, bonus rewards and the unmatched value of Double XP in every can, this year’s program is our biggest and most exciting yet,” said Dan McHugh, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Monster Energy.
“We’re proud to continue building on the success of our partnership with Monster Energy. Monster is the go-to fuel of gamers and they are going to drink up these exciting in-game rewards,” added Cody Neal, Associate Director of Global Partnerships, Call of Duty.
The limited-edition Monster Energy Call of Duty cans are available in 16oz in Original Monster Energy, Monster Zero Sugar and Monster Zero Ultra. Special 4, 12, and 15 can Monster Energy Call of Duty multipacks are on shelves now.
The post Monster Energy and Call of Duty Unite Again with Exclusive In-Game Rewards and Expanded Program Timing appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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