Deconstructor of Fun Shooter Monthly #3 Marathon vs the Market, Valorant Goes Massive, Marvel Rivals Misreads Progression
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Dec 29, 2025 The hosts dive deep into whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas shooter. They analyze Call of Duty's rare admission of a launch failure and the implications behind its shift to avoid back-to-back sub-franchises. Discussion heats up over Valorant Mobile's explosive growth in China while Western shooters struggle. There's a critical look at the delayed release of Marathon and its fiscal strategies. Finally, they confront Marvel Rivals' performance, suggesting it's a ceiling rather than a failure, emphasizing the need for innovation in the saturated hero-shooter genre.
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Call Of Duty Admits Release Failure
- Call of Duty admitted a failed launch and pledged no back-to-back releases in the same sub-franchise.
- That signals a recognition that sequels too close together damage player investment and perception.
Model Revenue Impact Before Delays
- Delay decisions should weigh market fit at the new launch date, not just development time or fiscal calendars.
- Model incremental revenue per month versus delay costs before choosing release windows.
Mobile Can Multiply A Franchise
- Valorant Mobile reached massive scale in China, showing mobile can more than double a franchise's MAU.
- Western mobile shooter market remains fragmented and only Call of Duty Mobile consistently breaks out.