"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 big companies, but it couldn't prevent the overall sales decline.
• Overall gaming sales in Europe only saw a 1% increase in 2024, with digital sales rising and physical copies falling.

2024 was a challenging year for video game consoles in Europe, affecting all major players like the Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. The region experienced a downward trend in new console sales, though the gaming industry as a whole saw some positive developments.

The PlayStation 5 Pro, a revamped version of the existing console, was the only new release from the big three game companies in 2024. Despite excitement from fans eager for a more powerful Sony console, it failed to reverse the overall sales decline in Europe compared to previous years.

According to a report by Video Games Chronicle, sales of the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch in Europe dropped significantly in 2024. Overall console sales fell by 21% from the previous year. PlayStation, bolstered by the PS5 Pro launch, had the best performance among the three but still saw a 20% decline in sales compared to 2023. The Nintendo Switch experienced a 15% drop, while the Xbox Series X/S suffered a dramatic 48% decline. This downturn is attributed to market saturation, with the original PS5 and Xbox Series consoles launched in 2020 and the Nintendo Switch in 2017. On Amazon's US site, the Meta Quest 3S outsold all major game consoles in 2024, signaling stagnant console sales in various regions.

Video Game Sales Shift and Growth Stagnates

Overall, gaming in Europe saw a modest increase in 2024, with 188.1 million PC and console games sold, marking only a 1% rise from the previous year. While any increase is positive, it likely fell short of what many game publishers hoped for. The data also reflects a shift in game purchasing habits, with digital game sales increasing to 131.6 million units, a 15% rise over 2023, while physical game sales dropped to 56.5 million units, a 22% decrease from the prior year.

Looking ahead, 2025 is anticipated to be a stronger year for gaming in Europe and globally. The upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to boost sales significantly. However, it's important to note that the 2024 console sales figures do not include data from the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, or Austria, among others. Including these markets might present a less bleak picture for 2024's performance.