In a recent non-scientific poll we conducted here on Operation Sports on the frontpage, more than 57% of Operation Sports readers who participated say they think the sports game release calendar is too condensed and needs to be spread out.
On the other side of the debate, 32% of OS’ers did not see a problem with the release schedule.
OS User DJ summed up the problem many sports game fans face in the replies to the post:
From a personal standpoint, this rings especially true. Granted, as the editor at Operation Sports I get early access to some games and get most of mine reimbursed — but even doing that I run into a time crunch. To give games adequate time, I’m having to self-impose a more spaced out release schedule just so I can enjoy the games individually a bit more.
This year, our ‘prime time’ release season started with Madden on August 23. By the time WWE 2K17 dropped on October 11 — we had had every major sports game release in that small window sans MLB The Show.
Contrast that schedule to the one where we used to have sports game releases start in June with a Golf or UFC title and go all the way into Mid-October with a WWE release.
It would seem an obvious move to possibly shift NBA 2K back into October closer to the tip-off of the NBA season and perhaps move FIFA up to the summer, before most club teams kick off their seasons worldwide. At that point, NHL would have room to breathe and so would the NBA franchise.
In reality, the WWE 2K franchise would probably do fine releasing on Black Friday or something like that — as the WWE’s prime time in their schedule is January – April in the lead up to Wrestlemania. But I’m just looking for ways to spread out the releases at this point from a consumer point of view.
So what do you think? How would you move the releases around to better serve customers? Sound off in the comments!
