In 2024, the game console sector in Europe, encompassing all the big players such as Switch, Xbox and PlayStation, has not had an exceptional year. Overall, sales of new consoles in the region have been trending downward, but there have still been some bright spots for the gaming industry.
This year, the only new console released by the three industry giants was the PlayStation 5 Pro, an improved version of an existing console. Although many enthusiasts were eager to get a more powerful Sony console, this was not enough to maintain sales figures in Europe compared to previous years.
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According to a report published by Video Games Chronicle, figures show that sales of PS5, Xbox Series the previous year. The PlayStation, taking advantage of the launch of the PS5 Pro, recorded the best results, although its sales still fell by 20% compared to 2023. The Nintendo Switch saw a drop of 15%, while the Xbox Series X/S fell 48%. It is assumed that this situation is largely due to a certain stagnation in the console market, the original models of the PS5 and Xbox having been launched in 2020, and the Switch in 2017. On the American Amazon site, the Meta Quest 3S has surpassed all major gaming consoles in 2024, which also suggests that console sales are stagnating in many territories.
Stagnation in video game sales
Overall, the video game sector did not see significant increases in Europe in 2024, with 188.1 million PC and console games sold, a slight increase of 1% compared to the previous year. While an increase is always positive, it is arguably lower than many game publishers’ expectations. The figures also reveal a shift in how gamers obtain their games, with digital sales reaching 131.6 million, an increase of 15% compared to 2023, when only 56.5 million copies of physical games were sold, recording a decrease of 22% compared to the previous year.
In short, 2025 should be a more dynamic year for the video game sector in Europe and around the world. The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled to release this year, which is expected to generate considerable sales. However, it should be noted that the console sales figures do not take into account the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands or Austria, among others. It is therefore possible that, if these markets were included, the 2024 results would appear in a less negative light.
Good to know
- Saturation of the console market may be temporary, with the potential arrival of new technologies.
- Digital games are growing in popularity, but physical copies remain popular with some players.
- 2025 is expected to mark a turning point with several new console launches, including the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.
