I totally agree. Multiplayer doesn't interest me at all.

Yeah, don't get me started on what my data cap has prevented me from enjoying for at least a month if not longer sometimes.

Considering all the releases that appeared last week, does it really matter that it was followed by a very slow week? Besides, I never expect much of anything to happen between Christmas and New Year's since it's always slow then everywhere. That's highly subjective.

Why would anyone want to release something memorable on the last week of the year? All the "of the year" lists have already been written (probably weeks ago, actually), and anything released this week will probably be forgotten by the time the next rolls around. I guess it might be a good time to release the stinkers, unfinished garbage you never intend to finish, and low effort, low quality ports and "remakes".

edit: Then again, all of 2022 has been kind of lame for me. I seem to no longer be the target audience (not that I ever especially have been). Wake me when Disgaea gets here, although you might have trouble since I'll probably be dead by then.

Give up?

No, I don't think so. Releasing new stuff ultra-late in the year doesn't really enhance sales. You've got to get the promotions/ major announcements in prior to Christmas in order to drive the holiday sales figures.

Think of it this way: after spending on Christmas presents, and post-Christmas rush spends at Boxing Day etc ... how much dough have you left over? Not nearly as much as before the sales started, yeah? No surprise the last days of the sale prior to 2023 coasts a little.

You do know people have their own taste in games?

I don't know that it's all that subjective. Earlier in the year we had Skyrim release here DRM-free. That is unquestionably a notable release by the standards of DRM-free-only gamers as it is a large scale game and one of the most famous videogames of all time, now finally available DRM-free. What was "the Skyrim" of the Winter Sale?

I will say the Daymare: 1998 giveaway is worth noting as a significant part of the Winter Sale, as it is a much bigger scale release than the type of games that usually get given away. But for existing owners, it doesn't mean much since they already owned it and can't take advantage of the giveaway.

Same goes for Broken Sword.

Astrologers proclaim week of the Plague! All populations are halved.

... and no new entries are added in the APIs (as a fun fact :P).