Well COD games are usually announced in April/May and they are the best selling games almost every year. It also helped out Fallout 4 and the same will happen to Skyrim remake this holiday.

Closer to launch feels a lot better than mentioning about a game coming and it not coming for 4-5 or more years, hype tends to deflate and expectations end up climbing higher or lower

What's that like? 

#OffTopic

Same here, it was announced when I was a junior in HS.  

I have graduated high school, graduated college, and moved to a different state (and then moved back).  I've been out of college for 5 years, and been working at my current job for the past 3 years.  Currently living with my girlfriend of 7 years.  All of these things have happened since the game was announced.

Ive really lost interest in the game.  Same with Kingdom Hearts 3.

Isn't that good for your stamina? Like edging yourself. So like, when you finally get the game in September, you'll have good stamina to play it. 

#StillAboutVideoGames
#NotProjectingMySex(lackthereof)LifeOntoYou

Yes. Its all about hype and the right kinda hype.

And its common sense, sales are likely to be higher when your new game is all people are talking about.

If i were them, what i would do is first show a reveal teaser. No more than 20secs or 30secs. Then it really doesn't matter when i show the game again cause no one knows what it is. But they will still talk about it. Then show the game again with a 7-10min gameplay trailer that floors everyone and at the end put a release date no longer than 6 months.

The need will be real.

But announcing a game sometimes 2-3yrs before its released; thats just wrong.

Yes! I love how Sony will announce games like LBP 6 months before release or bloodborne less than a year out

Bro, when it was annouced I was in Primary school learning fractions. Now i'm in law school. This shit is ridiculous.

I think showing a game a lot of time before release is counterproductive, especially if you just show teasers because they will make people imagine what they think the game will be and once the real game is revealed, they are disappointed because the game didn't fit the crazy expectations they created in their mind thanks to the teasers and that causes the hype for the game to lower. Just look at the poor FFXV...

Not really, if you really want the game you are gonna buy it, period. There are so many leaks anyway its almost moot.