Video Game Odds – Which Titles Will Make the Most Money in 2016?

2016 is here and gamers are drooling over the new releases. Now is the time to employ our prognostication cheats and set the odds on which games will do well, from a sales point-of-view, worldwide.

Obviously, I don’t have a crystal ball, but judging by: (a) previous trends, (b) some obvious big releases, and (c) a “will we finally see it?” title, I’m pretty confident the following titles will be raking in the dough. (We did an earlier list in January, and now that I have more info, the list has been expanded.)

As the year goes along, the numbers will be adjusted. But, for now, here are the odds on what game could have developers swimming in the most money a la Scrooge McDuck.

Final Fantasy XV – 4/1

Ever since it was announced in 2006, Final Fantasy XV has long been in development limbo. It finally appears that the game will be released in 2016. When? An announcement is supposed to be made on March 30th. If I was a betting man, I’d wager it will be out in time to top the sales charts for 2016. It should be available for the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Wii U, which will help its cause. There’s also a rumor that it will be one of the first games available for the new Nintendo NX. Expect FF XV to do big time sales worldwide in 2016 and into 2017.
Release Date: Sometime in 2016. Consoles: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii U (possibly Nintendo NX).

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – 17/3 

[Update: game title, trailer and release date have been announced]

We finally have some news on the new Call of Duty game. A trailer was released in early May and gamers across the globe already hate it without playing it. Apparently what has gamers up in arms, is that the gameplay has been changed and features movements that resemble “Halo” or “Destiny.”  The game takes place in the future with a very sci-fi theme to everything. Haters are going to hate but a lot of that should fall upon Activision who refuses to listen to their customer’s wants and needs. Whatever the case, expect the game to do well in sales again; the franchise has sold more than 250 million units worldwide.
Release Date: November 4 of 2016.  Consoles: PS4, Xbox One.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – 17/3

After a few delays, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, the fourth and final installment in the Uncharted series, plans on dominating game sales in 2016. The story is set several years after the events of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. The game will come packed with all that lovely PS4 power, a full-suite multiplayer component, and feature both offline and online play. Uncharted 4 is the most highly anticipated game exclusive to the PS4.
Release Date: May 10, 2016. Console: PS4.

Doom – 9/1

It’s going to be fun to play a brand new Doom game, but once again we get another reboot. Meh, as long as we get to blow demons up on Mars with full-on blood splatter, who cares? This classic first-person shooter is developed by id Software and is set to come to your PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One on May 13, 2016. Based on how popular this game has been in the past, you can expect a lot of units to be sold.
Release Date: May 13, 2016. Console: PS4, Xbox One.

Street Fighter V – 9/1

Put your quarter up for the fifth official installment in this dominating arcade fighter franchise. Capcom says that there will be better graphics and battle mechanics that will deliver endless fighting enjoyment. Street Fighter is a gaming institution, so when a new edition comes out, the money comes in worldwide.
Release Date: February 16, 2016. Console: PS4.

FIFA 2017 – 11/1

EA’s FIFA has consistently been in the top-ten in sales and 2016 will be no different. The last couple of years, EA made the game available on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but the rumor is that FIFA 2017 can only be played on the new consoles. Will that hurt the game in sales? A bit. But it also means that the game could get more than just a few minor tweaks (as in recent years) and, instead, see a big jump in overall production. The game is set to be released worldwide in its traditional September slot.
Release Date: September, 2016. Console: PS4, Xbox One.

NBA 2K17 – 14/1