I still believe the statistics you reference at Halo charts are the wrong ones. I also believe you have incorrect statistics about Halo 3 populations, rose tinted glasses I'm afraid. Here we go -
Some various posts about population statistics amalgamated.
Halo Charts peak population is not unique players per day or games played per day totals. You are looking at the wrong statistic and trend. Halo continues to be #2 on XBL overall for 2 months since release.
Major Nelson Xbox Live Charts from Dec 3rd. Clearly COD/BOPSII is popular and #1, clearly Halo 4 has remained as #2 and clearly the peak population chart over at Halo Charts is NOT the correct statistic to look at. The previous Major Nelson XBL chart for November 19 had Halo 4 as number 2 as well,
see source link here. Halo 4 has beaten out ACIII, FIFA13, Skyrim, FarCry 3, Borderlands 2 & Reach of course. All while holding #2 against the COD juggernaut. Halo 4 is doing great and sales have been excellent with a huge cash pile for 343i/MS.
1. Only XBL or 343i numbers are the accurate ones, there is no official API support and already Halo Charts are missing a number of statistics to track population accurately. I appreciate Halo Charts they just don't have the API support to deliver the goods reliably or cover ALL game modes for correct population analysis.
2. Halo Charts does NOT include Spartan Ops numbers.
3. Halo Charts does NOT include Campaign numbers.
4. Halo Charts does NOT include Custom Games numbers.
5. Both #1 (COD) & #2 (Halo 4) will experience fluctuations over XMAS, gift giving and players having more time off over holidays to play games.
6. Halo has always been able to attract players back over months and I don't think Halo 4 will be any different this XMAS or through early next year either.
7. Most purchasers of Halo games buy it for the campaign, not what you'd think from being and XBL multiplayer but it has always been this way and that tradition continues with Halo 4 as well.
8. Show me a peak population for BOPSII and you'll see the same initial peak trend, it's all about the casual players who buy games and rarely revisit them again mate.
9. I expect a massive decrease in PEAK population, again it is NOT the number of unique players or total games played per day across all game modes.
10. Expect the same exact peak trend to occur over XMAS holidays as well.
11. Expect a similar peak trend as map packs, tweaks, playlists or updates are released.
12. ACIII & Borderlands 2 are no small games to compete against. Especially Borderlands 2 taking out lots of multiplayer awards too.
13. No need to get your panties in a bunch over a trend that is to be expected. Also there is absolutely nothing wrong with second place, it's a great achievement but sure I'd like Halo 4 to be #1.
14. 14 day free gold trial that came with the game.
Can we please now stop referencing the incorrect Halo Charts statistics!
Once again peak does NOT equal unique players or games played per day.