Summary
- Major European gaming console sales slumped in 2024, attributed to market saturation and a dearth of new releases.
- The PlayStation 5 Pro, the only significant new console launch from major manufacturers, failed to stem the overall sales decline.
- While overall European gaming sales saw a modest 1% increase in 2024, this growth was driven by a surge in digital sales, offsetting a sharp 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. The region experienced a significant downturn in new console sales, although the broader gaming industry wasn't entirely stagnant.
The only major new console release from established manufacturers in 2024 was the PlayStation 5 Pro, an enhanced version of the existing PS5. Despite anticipation surrounding the more powerful Sony console, it proved insufficient to counteract the overall sales decline in Europe compared to previous years.
A Video Games Chronicle report revealed a dramatic 21% year-on-year drop in European console sales for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. PlayStation, despite the PS5 Pro launch, still saw a 20% sales decrease compared to 2023. The Nintendo Switch experienced a 15% decline, while Xbox Series X/S sales plummeted by a striking 48%. This downturn is largely attributed to market saturation, with the original PS5 and Xbox Series consoles launching in 2020 and the Nintendo Switch in 2017. Further highlighting market stagnation, Amazon US data showed the Meta Quest 3S outselling all major gaming consoles in 2024, suggesting a broader trend of slowing console sales in various territories.
Video Game Sales: A Shifting Landscape and Growth Plateau
Overall European gaming sales in 2024 reached 188.1 million units (PC and console), representing a meager 1% increase compared to 2023. While positive, this growth likely fell short of industry expectations. The data reveals a significant shift in consumer purchasing habits, with digital game sales surging 15% to 131.6 million units, while physical game sales plummeted 22% to 56.5 million units.
While 2025 is anticipated to be a more robust year for the European gaming market, fueled by the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 release, it's crucial to note that the reported console sales figures exclude several major European markets, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. Inclusion of these markets might present a more nuanced picture of 2024's performance.
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