Video Game Console Hardware Sales Are Way Down in One Region

Summary

• Major gaming console sales in Europe slumped in 2024, attributed to market saturation and a dearth of new releases.
• The PlayStation 5 Pro, the only major new console launch, failed to stem the overall sales decline.
• Total European gaming sales saw a modest 1% increase in 2024, driven by growth in digital sales, offsetting a significant drop in physical game sales.

2024 proved a challenging year for video game console sales across major European markets, impacting leading brands like Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. While the overall market experienced a downturn in new console sales, the gaming industry wasn't entirely without positive news.

The only significant new console release from a major manufacturer in 2024 was the PlayStation 5 Pro, an upgraded version of the existing PS5. Despite generating anticipation among Sony fans, its launch couldn't prevent a broader decline in European console sales.

A Video Games Chronicle report revealed a substantial 21% year-on-year drop in overall European console sales for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. PlayStation, although performing relatively best thanks to the PS5 Pro, still experienced a 20% sales decrease compared to 2023. The Nintendo Switch saw a 15% decline, while Xbox Series X/S sales plummeted by a striking 48%. This downturn is largely attributed to market stagnation, with the original PS5 and Xbox Series consoles launching in 2020 and the Nintendo Switch in 2017. Further highlighting this trend, Amazon US data showed the Meta Quest 3S outsold all major gaming consoles in 2024, suggesting a wider trend of console sales slowing across various regions.

Video Game Sales: A Shift in the Landscape

The overall European gaming market showed only a marginal 1% growth in 2024, with 188.1 million PC and console games sold. While positive, this modest increase likely falls short of industry expectations. A significant shift is evident in sales channels: digital game sales surged 15% to 131.6 million units, while physical game sales dropped 22% to 56.5 million units.

Projections for 2025 anticipate a stronger year for the European gaming market, fueled by the anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. It's crucial to note that the reported console sales figures exclude several major European markets, including the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Austria. Inclusion of these markets could potentially alter the overall picture for 2024.

See at Walmart See at Best Buy