"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 it 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 was not a stellar year for video game consoles in various parts of Europe, including the major players like the Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. The year saw a downward trend in new console sales across the region, though it wasn't entirely bleak for the gaming industry.

In 2024, the only new console released by the big three gaming companies was the PlayStation 5 Pro, a more powerful version of an existing console. Despite the excitement among fans for a new Sony-branded console, it was not enough to halt the decline in sales compared to previous years.

According to a report by Video Games Chronicle, data shows that the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch struggled in Europe, with overall console sales dropping by a significant 21% from the previous year. PlayStation, boosted somewhat by the PS5 Pro's launch, had the best performance but still saw a 20% decrease in sales compared to 2023. The Nintendo Switch experienced a 15% drop, while the Xbox Series X/S faced a dramatic 48% decline. This downturn is largely attributed to market saturation, with the original PS5 and Xbox Series consoles having been launched in 2020, and the Nintendo Switch back in 2017. Interestingly, on Amazon's US-based site, the Meta Quest 3S outsold all major game consoles in 2024, suggesting that console sales may be stagnating in various markets.

Video Game Sales Shift and Growth Stagnation

Overall, gaming in Europe saw only a slight increase in 2024, with 188.1 million PC and console games sold, marking a modest 1% rise from the previous year. While any increase is positive, it likely fell short of the expectations of many game publishers. The data also reflects a significant shift in purchasing behavior, with digital game sales reaching 131.6 million, a 15% increase over 2023, while physical game sales dropped to 56.5 million, a 22% decrease from 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 drive significant sales. 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 other countries. Including these markets might have presented a less dire picture for 2024's console sales.