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 various European markets, affecting all the major players like the Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. Despite the introduction of new hardware, the overall trend for new console sales in the region was downward. However, the gaming industry did see some positive developments.
The only new console released by the major gaming companies in 2024 was the PlayStation 5 Pro, a more powerful version of the existing PS5. While this launch generated excitement among Sony fans eager for enhanced performance, it was insufficient to reverse the declining sales trend in Europe compared to previous years.
According to a report from Video Games Chronicle, sales data showed a significant 21% drop in console sales across Europe in 2024 compared to 2023. PlayStation, buoyed somewhat by the PS5 Pro, fared the best but still saw a 20% decrease in sales. The Nintendo Switch saw a 15% decline, while the Xbox Series X/S experienced a sharp 48% drop. This downturn is attributed to market saturation, as the original PS5 and Xbox Series consoles debuted in 2020, and the Nintendo Switch in 2017. Interestingly, on Amazon's US site, the Meta Quest 3S outsold all traditional gaming consoles in 2024, suggesting a potential shift in consumer preferences.
Video Game Sales Shift and Growth Stagnates
Overall, the gaming market in Europe saw only a modest 1% increase in 2024, with a total of 188.1 million PC and console games sold. While any growth is positive, it fell short of the expectations of many game publishers. The data also highlighted a significant shift in purchasing habits: digital game sales rose to 131.6 million, marking a 15% increase from 2023, whereas physical game sales fell to 56.5 million, 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, largely due to the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2. This new console is expected to boost sales significantly. It's important to note, however, that the 2024 sales figures do not include data from key markets such as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria, which could potentially alter the overall picture if included.
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