Digital Sales Dominate UK Gaming Market with 82% of Total Sales for Top Titles

The UK gaming industry witnessed significant growth in digital sales, with a staggering 82% of total sales for top titles like Street Fighter, Final Fantasy, Diablo, and F1 coming from digital stores. According to the latest GSD data, the gaming market saw a modest 7% increase in sales compared to the same period last year, despite the release of several high-profile games in June. Diablo 4 emerged as the clear best-selling game, with 57% of its sales coming from PC and the remaining 43% from consoles like PS5, Xbox Series S and X, and PS4. The game's digital sales were the highest among the top titles, likely due to its strong presence on the PC platform, which is predominantly digital. In contrast, Final Fantasy 16 had the lowest digital share, which can be attributed to its exclusivity on the PS5 platform, where physical retail sales remain strong. The PS5 console saw a significant boost in sales, rising 43% after a price cut, with the standard PS5 bundle with God of War Ragnarok being a major driver of sales. The Nintendo Switch, on the other hand, experienced a 20% drop in sales, with the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Special Edition console falling to the third spot in June. The accessories market also saw a shift, with the Midnight Black PS5 DualSense controller taking the top spot, and the Starfield Limited Edition Xbox controller debuting at number five. Overall, the UK gaming market continues to evolve, with digital sales dominating the landscape and console sales experiencing fluctuations based on factors like pricing and new releases.