European Console and PC Game Sales Experience 7.1% Decline in 2022

Key Highlights: - Overall video game sales declined, but new game sales saw a 16% year-over-year increase - Sales of PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch decreased, while Xbox sales rose - FIFA 23, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Pokémon, and Elden Ring were key drivers of game sales - The UK surpassed Germany as Europe's largest gaming market In 2022, a total of 159 million console and PC games were sold across tracked European markets, marking a 7.1% decrease from the previous year. According to the latest GSD data, which monitors physical and digital game sales across Europe, the region saw a notable decline in overall game sales. The data encompasses all physical sales in major European countries and digital sales from most major AAA publishers, excluding Nintendo, which does not share digital data. The data also excludes games from independent teams. Digital downloads accounted for 82.5 million game sales, while the remaining 76.6 million were sold through physical retailers. Focusing solely on new games released in 2022, sales increased by 16% compared to new games released in 2021. FIFA 23 sales rose by 3% compared to FIFA 22, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 sales surged by nearly 73% compared to Call of Duty: Vanguard. If Pokémon Scarlet and Violet sales were combined, the game would have ranked sixth, replacing Pokémon Legends: Arceus. However, it is essential to note that Pokémon games do not include digital sales, which may have impacted their ranking. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet sales were 13% higher than the 2021 Diamond and Pearl remakes and 8% higher than the previous mainline releases, Pokémon Sword and Shield. In terms of the average digital-to-physical sales ratio, 64% of sales were through digital download stores, a slight decrease from the 65% figure in 2021. This analysis only includes games sold both physically and digitally and only considers countries with available physical and digital data. Other top-selling games include LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, and Gran Turismo 7. Outside of Pokémon, Mario Kart 8: Deluxe was the best-selling Switch game, followed closely by Nintendo Switch Sports. The UK was the largest gaming market in Europe, with game sales declining by 6% year-over-year. Germany followed, with a 13% decline, and France saw a 3% decline. Spain and Italy experienced a 1% and 2% increase in game sales, respectively. The UK was the top-performing market for games like FIFA, Call of Duty, LEGO Star Wars, and Elden Ring. In contrast, Germany and France were the strongest markets for Nintendo Switch titles, such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe. FIFA 23 was the best-selling game in most major markets, with a few exceptions, such as Finland, where Elden Ring topped the charts. Games that did not make the top 20 but are in the top 50 include NBA 2K23, It Takes Two, Splatoon 3, WWE 2K22, Mario Strikers: Battle League Football, Sonic Frontiers, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, and Dying Light 2: Stay Human. In terms of console sales, 5.3 million consoles were sold in tracked territories, a 25% decline from the previous year. The Nintendo Switch was the top-selling console, despite a 15% decline in sales. The PS5 followed, with a 35% decline, while the Xbox Series S and X consoles saw a 4.4% increase in sales. The Switch was the top-selling console in almost every country, with exceptions in Denmark and Sweden, where the PS5 led, and Norway, where the Xbox Series S and X were the top-selling consoles. Accessory sales declined by 10% across tracked European markets, with 18 million products sold. The best-selling accessories were the PS5 DualSense controller, followed by the PS4 DualShock controller, Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers, and Xbox Series Wireless Controller. The top-selling non-controller accessory was the Sony PS5 Pulse 3D Headset, which saw a 3.6% decline in sales. In terms of points cards and wallets, 22.4 million products were sold, a decline of 8% from the previous year. The GSD digital data includes games from participating companies sold through Steam, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, and Nintendo Eshop. Major participating companies include Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Electronic Arts, among others. The data excludes Nintendo and 505 Games, as well as smaller studios. Digital data covers games sold in various European countries, including Austria, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Physical data includes all games sold in countries like Austria, Belgium, and France. Console hardware sales cover countries like Belgium, Denmark, and Finland.