"Video Game Console Sales Drop Sharply in One Region"

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 proved to be a challenging year for video game consoles across various parts of Europe, impacting major brands like the Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. Despite this, the gaming industry wasn't entirely engulfed in gloom.

The year saw the launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro, a more powerful iteration of the existing console from Sony. Although it generated significant interest among fans eager for enhanced performance, it was insufficient to reverse the overall decline in console sales in Europe compared to previous years.

According to a report by Video Games Chronicle, sales figures for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch in Europe were disappointing, with a 21% drop in total console sales from 2023. PlayStation managed to fare slightly better thanks to the PS5 Pro's release, yet still saw a 20% decrease in sales. The Nintendo Switch experienced a 15% decline, while the Xbox Series X/S suffered a drastic 48% drop. This downturn is largely attributed to a stagnant console market, considering the original PS5 and Xbox Series consoles were released in 2020, and the Nintendo Switch debuted in 2017. On Amazon's US platform, the Meta Quest 3S outperformed all major gaming consoles in 2024, suggesting a broader stagnation in traditional console sales.

Video Game Sales Shift and Growth Stagnates

Overall, the European gaming market saw a modest 1% increase in 2024, with a total of 188.1 million PC and console games sold. This slight rise, while positive, may not meet the expectations of many game publishers. The data also reflects a significant shift in consumer behavior, with digital game sales surging to 131.6 million units, up 15% from 2023, while physical game sales plummeted by 22%, totaling 56.5 million units.

Looking ahead, 2025 is anticipated to be a more robust year for gaming in Europe and globally, buoyed by the impending release of the Nintendo Switch 2. This new console is expected to drive significant sales. It's important to note, however, that the current sales data excludes key markets such as the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria, which could potentially alter the perception of 2024's performance if included.

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