UK Video Game Sales Experience Slight Decline in November Despite Strong Console Sales

The UK video game market witnessed a minor decline of 3% in sales during November, with over 4.55 million games sold, according to data from GSD. This drop can be attributed to a relatively weaker release lineup in November compared to the same period in 2022, which saw major launches such as God of War Ragnarök and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. However, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 emerged as a top performer, securing the number one spot for the month. Despite Activision's efforts to position Modern Warfare 3 as a full sequel, sales for the game were 38% lower than its predecessor, Modern Warfare 2, during the first three weeks. The release of Hogwarts Legacy on Nintendo Switch also contributed to a notable increase in sales, with a 100% jump in sales due to the Switch release and Black Friday discounts. EA Sports FC 23 saw slightly lower sales compared to FIFA 23 in the same period last year, but the difference was marginal. The Black Friday week saw significant sales, with 1.66 million games sold, led by EA Sports FC 24, representing a 0.8% increase over the same period last year. Football Manager 2024 secured the sixth spot, with sales down 4% compared to the previous year's title. RoboCop: Rogue City also made a notable appearance, reaching the eleventh spot in the November charts. In terms of console sales, the PS5 delivered a strong performance, with over 486,000 consoles sold in the UK during November, representing a 176% increase month-on-month and a 32% increase over November last year. The PS5 accounted for nearly half of all console sales, with sales up 149% month-on-month and 126% over last November. The Xbox Series S and X saw a significant sales jump of 231% month-on-month, while Nintendo Switch sales were up 175% month-on-month but down 19% over the same period last year. Year-to-date, console sales have increased by 12%, driven primarily by improved PS5 sales. Additionally, 1.275 million peripherals and accessories were sold in the UK during November, representing a 118% increase over October but a 3.5% decline over last November. The new PlayStation Portal accessory for PS5 debuted at number five, with the product selling out at UK retail last month. The top 10 games for November in the UK, according to GfK data, were led by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, followed by EA Sports FC 24, Hogwarts Legacy, Spider-Man 2, and Super Mario Bros Wonder.