UK Gaming Market Sees 2.6% Growth in 2023

The UK gaming market experienced a modest 2.6% increase in sales during 2023, with 38 million video games sold, according to recent GSD figures. EA Sports FC 24 took the top spot as the best-selling video game in the UK, despite an 8.4% decline in sales compared to the previous year, with 2.39 million units sold. Notably, FIFA 23 benefited from the FIFA World Cup in December 2022. Warner Bros. had a successful year, with Hogwarts Legacy surpassing Call of Duty to become the second-best-selling game in the UK. The Harry Potter spin-off was also the top-selling physical game, with a staggered release across various platforms, including PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S and X in February, followed by PS4 and Xbox One in May, and finally Nintendo Switch in November. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ranked third, with sales down 39% compared to the previous year, possibly due to its perceived similarity to an expansion rather than a full sequel. The games' marketing partnerships with PlayStation contributed to over half of their sales being on Sony formats. New IP releases had a relatively slow year, with Starfield being the highest-charting new IP at No. 31. Disney IP had a strong year, with Spider-Man 2 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor performing well. Nintendo's games, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros Wonder, would have likely charted higher if digital data were available. Other notable releases in the Top 20 include Assassin's Creed Mirage, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and F1 23. The Top 100 also features games like Dead Island 2, Mortal Kombat 1, and Final Fantasy 16. Some games, including Baldur's Gate 3, are missing from the chart due to their publishers not being part of the GSD data. In terms of console sales, 2.38 million units were sold in the UK, representing a 9.4% increase year-over-year, driven primarily by the PS5, which saw a 55.2% sales increase. The PS4 also experienced significant growth, with sales up 633% year-over-year, attributed to the severe console shortages in the previous year. The Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series S and X saw sales decline by 16.7% and 14.2%, respectively. Accessories sales totaled 9 million products, a 4.5% decrease year-over-year, despite improved console sales.