TV Game Adaptations Can Boost Players by Over 490%

New research reveals that TV and movie adaptations are powerful growth engines for video game franchises. The average player uplift from a TV adaptation is more than quadruple that of a typical game update or major activation, with the average franchise seeing a 203% jump in player counts. The Fallout franchise’s 2024 launch on Prime Video stands out, bringing nearly 14 million new players to the series, most of whom were first-timers.

Ampere Analysis’ data shows TV adaptations consistently outperform movie tie-ins and in-game events when it comes to driving new engagement. The Fallout TV series delivered the most dramatic impact, boosting monthly active users by 490%, far beyond the 17% average uptick caused by recent DLC updates. HBO’s The Last of Us series similarly propelled the games to an average 150% rise in engagement and over four million new players across its two seasons.

Crucially, TV adaptations don’t need to be blockbuster hits to make a mark. Netflix’s Devil May Cry anime, which was only a moderate performer in the overall TV rankings, still drove a massive 358% jump in players for the franchise. Even evergreen favorites like Minecraft benefited significantly when the Minecraft Movie debuted, sparking a 30% lift in monthly playtime, with more than half of those being lapsed players returning to the game.

The research also highlights that coordinated cross-media campaigns maximize retention. Sony’s multipronged approach with The Last of Us helped retain 20% of the new player base six months after the TV show’s peak. With more game franchises, from Call of Duty to Life is Strange, set for screen debuts, publishers are viewing adaptations as long-term audience “superchargers,” fueling both growth and ongoing engagement well after a show’s release.

This player surge is rewriting the playbook for both studios and platforms, proving that well-executed TV series can resonate deeply with old fans and bring in massive new audiences, ushering in an era where the synergy between games and television is set to grow even stronger.