"Region Sees Sharp Decline in Video Game Console Sales"

Summary

• Major gaming console sales in Europe dropped in 2024 due to market saturation and a lack of new releases.
• The PlayStation 5 Pro was the only new console from major companies but couldn't prevent the overall sales decline.
• Overall gaming sales in Europe saw only a 1% increase in 2024, with digital sales rising and physical copies falling.

2024 proved to be a challenging year for video game consoles across several European markets, affecting all major players including the Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. The year marked a noticeable downward trend in new console sales in the region, though the gaming industry as a whole experienced some positive developments.

In 2024, the only new console released by the big three gaming companies was the PlayStation 5 Pro, a more powerful version of the existing model. Despite enthusiasm from fans eager for a more robust Sony console, its launch was insufficient to counteract the overall sales decline in Europe compared to previous years.

According to a report by Video Games Chronicle, sales data indicates a significant drop in console sales across the board. The PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch all struggled in Europe, with overall console sales plummeting by 21% from the previous year. PlayStation, buoyed somewhat by the PS5 Pro's release, saw the least decline with a 20% drop in sales compared to 2023. The Nintendo Switch experienced a 15% decrease, while the Xbox Series X/S witnessed a dramatic 48% fall. This downturn is attributed to a stagnant console market, with the original PS5 and Xbox Series consoles having been launched in 2020, and the Nintendo Switch debuting in 2017. Notably, on Amazon's US site, the Meta Quest 3S outsold all major gaming consoles in 2024, suggesting a growing stagnation in traditional console sales in various markets.

Video Game Sales Shift and Growth Stagnates

Overall, gaming sales in Europe for 2024 were modest, with a total of 188.1 million PC and console games sold, marking just a 1% increase over the previous year. While any growth is positive, it fell short of the expectations many game publishers had hoped for. The data also highlights a shift in consumer behavior, with digital game sales rising to 131.6 million units, a 15% increase from 2023, while physical game sales declined to 56.5 million units, a 22% decrease compared to the prior year.

Looking ahead, 2025 is anticipated to be a more robust year for gaming in Europe and globally. The upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to significantly boost sales. However, it's important to note that the 2024 console sales figures do not include data from countries such as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, or Austria, which could potentially alter the perception of the year's performance if included.