Record-Breaking Console Sales Drive UK Gaming Retail to New Heights on Black Friday

According to GfK, the UK gaming market witnessed a staggering £167 million in sales of video game consoles, accessories, and physical games during the Black Friday week. This milestone marks the third most successful Black Friday for the video game industry to date, surpassed only by the 2013 and 2020 events, which coincided with the releases of the PS4 and PS5 consoles, respectively. The UK physical video games market experienced a significant 22% revenue increase compared to the previous year, with console sales accounting for 47% of the total revenue, up from 40% in 2022. In terms of sales channels, online retailers dominated the market, with 82% of Black Friday video game sales taking place online, matching the previous year's figure. The online share was slightly lower than in 2020, when it reached 88% due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Console hardware sales saw a substantial 34% increase over the 2022 Black Friday period, primarily driven by the PlayStation 5. The PS5's limited supply in 2022 resulted in a remarkable 217% increase in sales compared to the previous year. This Black Friday week was also the second-best sales week for Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series S and X consoles since their release, with the previous record being the launch week of the PS5 and the second week of Xbox Series S and X sales. While the PlayStation 5 garnered significant attention, the Xbox Series S and X also had a strong performance, matching their Black Friday sales from the previous year. Overall, Black Friday 2023 marked the third-best week for Xbox Series S and X console sales. In the accessories segment, GfK reported the biggest Black Friday yet for peripherals sales, driven by strong demand for VR headsets, joypads, and gaming headsets. Dorian Bloch, GfK's games boss, noted, "VR was a major focus during Black Friday 2023, resulting in the largest revenue week for VR to date." Bloch added, "Gaming headsets showed a similar trend to joypads, with a decline in unit sales but a slight increase in revenue. The under £60 category accounted for 45% of overall revenue, with an average selling price increase from £25 to £29. Meanwhile, the over £100 category maintained a 26% revenue share, with an average selling price growth from £139 to £156, indicating a long-standing trend of consumers preferring premium products and willing to pay more for higher-end SKUs."