Between this game, Disco Elisium, Control and The Outer Worlds, it's a very busy season for great new game franchises. Wish I had the time for them all. And Death Stranding is just around the corner!
Oh, Disco Elysium was such a special experience. Haven't played anything as well written and unique since Planescape: Torment.
Are these franchises?
The term 'franchise' is mutated a bit in the game industry. They're new games that don't have anything to do with previous games (not a sequel, remake, prequel, etc.) so they're new franchises.
I have mostly seen this be named IPs (intellectual property), as in "studio X confirms it is working on a new IP".
I guess 'franchise' also works nowadays, as for any succesful game it will be profitable to make a sequel/spinoff/eventual remaster.
Ahhh, thanks! I had no idea "new franchise" would be used even if it wasn't obviously the first in a series of games.