Summary
- Major gaming console sales in Europe dropped in 2024 due to market saturation and lack of new releases.
- The PlayStation 5 Pro was the only new console from big companies, but couldn't prevent 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 including the Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. Despite this, the gaming industry did not suffer entirely as there were some positive developments.
The only new console released by the big three game companies in 2024 was the PlayStation 5 Pro, a more powerful version of the existing PS5. Although it generated excitement among fans eager for enhanced performance, it was not enough to reverse the downward trend in console sales across Europe compared to previous years.
According to a report by Video Games Chronicle, sales of the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch saw significant declines. Overall, console sales dropped by 21% compared to the previous year. PlayStation, bolstered by the PS5 Pro's launch, fared relatively better but still experienced a 20% decline in sales. The Nintendo Switch saw a 15% drop, while the Xbox Series X/S suffered a dramatic 48% decrease. Analysts attribute these declines to market saturation, with the PS5 and Xbox Series having been released in 2020, and the Nintendo Switch in 2017. Interestingly, on Amazon's US site, the Meta Quest 3S outsold all major game consoles in 2024, suggesting a shift in consumer preferences.
Video Game Sales Shift and Growth Stagnates
Despite the downturn in console sales, the overall gaming market in Europe saw a modest increase. In 2024, 188.1 million PC and console games were sold, marking a 1% rise over the previous year. While this increase is positive, it falls short of what many game publishers had hoped for. The data also highlights a significant shift in purchasing behavior, with digital game sales reaching 131.6 million units, a 15% increase from 2023. In contrast, physical game sales fell to 56.5 million units, a 22% decrease from the previous year.
Looking ahead, 2025 is anticipated to be a more robust year for the gaming industry 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 countries like the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, or Austria, which could potentially alter the overall perspective on the year's performance.
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