UK Gaming Charts: Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda Lead the Way in May

The UK gaming market experienced a significant boost in May, driven by the release of a major Nintendo Switch game. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom debuted as the number one game in May, according to GSD data, despite Nintendo not sharing digital sales figures. This game has achieved the largest launch in UK history for the Zelda series, with lifetime sales already surpassing most previous titles in the series, except for 2006's Twilight Princess and 2017's Breath of the Wild. The success of Zelda contributed to a nearly 30% increase in game sales compared to the same period last year, resulting in over 2.17 million titles sold. Another notable release in May was Hogwarts Legacy, which launched on older generation platforms after its successful debut on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S and X in February. The game saw 53% of its sales on PS4, 24% on Xbox One, and the remainder on current-generation consoles. LEGO 2K Drive also entered the charts, securing the 19th position. The Legend of Zelda had a substantial impact on the console hardware market as well. According to GfK panel data, approximately 96,000 consoles were sold in May, representing a 10% decrease from the previous year and a 14% drop from April. The Nintendo Switch ended the PS5's four-month reign as the UK's top-selling console, despite a 5% decline in sales from the previous month. However, Switch sales have increased by 28% compared to May last year. The reason for the decline in Switch sales from April to May can be attributed to the release of the Tears of the Kingdom Special Edition OLED Switch in April and the continued sales of the special Mario edition of the Switch, which was launched in March to coincide with the Super Mario Bros movie. Almost 35% of all Switch consoles sold in May were the Zelda OLED version. PS5 sales dropped by 23% from the previous month, marking the first time this year that sales have been lower than the same period in 2022. Xbox Series S and X sales also decreased by 10% in May compared to April and are down compared to the same period in 2022. Overall, console sales have increased by 16.6% so far in 2023 compared to the previous year, with PS5 sales rising by 81%, Switch sales declining by 8%, and Xbox Series S and X sales dropping by 19%. In the accessories and peripherals sector, 441,268 add-on products were sold in the UK last month, according to GfK panel data, representing a 9% decrease from April and a 5% decrease from May last year. The PS5 DualSense controller remains the best-selling accessory, while the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller has risen to the second position, boosted by the launch of the latest Zelda game. The Zelda edition of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which was released to coincide with the game, reached the 20th position but was in short supply. A Switch Carry Case tie-in with Zelda also entered the charts at number 32 and has sold out. Digital data is currently unavailable. The GSD digital data includes games from participating companies sold via Steam, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo Eshop, with major companies like Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, and Capcom contributing, although Nintendo and 505 Games are notable exceptions.