European Game Sales Experience Decline in April Due to Lack of Major Releases

European PC and console game sales saw a 6.2% year-over-year decline in April, totaling 10.5 million games sold, according to data from GSD, which tracks digital and physical game sales across major European markets. The month of April was marked by a notable absence of major game releases, with only Stellar Blade for PS5 making its debut in the Top Ten at number nine. In comparison, April 2023 witnessed the release of high-profile games such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Dead Island 2. However, the lack of new releases was somewhat offset by the resurgence of Fallout 4, which became the best-selling game of the month following a price cut and the launch of its Amazon Prime TV series. The game's PC version accounted for over half of its total sales. The Fallout series had a strong presence in the Top Ten, with Fallout 76 and Fallout: New Vegas also featuring at numbers seven and ten, respectively. EA Sports FC 24 narrowly claimed the second spot, edging out Helldivers 2. The hardware market experienced a significant decline, with console sales dropping by 47% compared to the same period last year. This decline can be attributed to several factors, including the increased availability of PS5 consoles in the first half of last year, which led to a sales spike, as well as the release of new Nintendo Switch hardware and the Super Mario Bros movie. The current market is also experiencing a weaker release schedule, which is affecting PS5 and Xbox Series S and X sales, while the Switch is now in its eighth year and seeing slowing sales. The accessories market also saw a decline of nearly 17%, with just over 1 million units sold, although the PS5 DualSense Controller maintained its top position with a 0.8% increase in sales. The GSD data encompasses digital sales from participating companies, including major players such as Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft, and covers games sold via various platforms, including Steam, Xbox Live, and the Nintendo eShop. The data also includes physical game sales in major European markets, as well as console hardware and accessories sales in select countries.