UK Gaming Market Sees Surge in May, Driven by Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda

The UK's gaming market experienced significant growth in May, primarily driven by the release of a major Nintendo Switch game. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom comfortably secured the top spot in the charts, even without the inclusion of digital data from Nintendo. This achievement marks the biggest Zelda game launch in UK history, with lifetime sales already exceeding those of most previous titles in the series, except for Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild. The success of Zelda led 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 saw 53% of its sales on PS4 and 24% on Xbox One. LEGO 2K Drive also made its debut in the charts at number 19. The Legend of Zelda had a substantial impact on console hardware sales as well. According to GfK panel data, approximately 96,000 consoles were sold in May, representing a 10% drop from the previous year and a 14% decline from April. The Nintendo Switch ended PS5's four-month reign as the UK's best-selling console, claiming the top spot despite a 5% month-on-month sales decrease. However, Switch sales have increased by 28% compared to May last year. The Tears of the Kingdom Special Edition OLED Switch, released in April, contributed to the month-on-month sales dip. Almost 35% of all Switch consoles sold in May were the Zelda OLED version. PS5 sales dropped by 23% month-on-month, marking the first time this year that sales were lower than the same period in 2022. Xbox Series S and X sales also fell 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, with PS5 sales up 81%, Switch sales down 8%, and Xbox Series S and X sales down 19%. In the accessories and peripherals sector, 441,268 add-on products were sold in the UK last month, representing a 9% decrease from April and a 5% decline from May last year. The PS5 DualSense controller remains the best-selling accessory, while the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller has risen to the second spot, boosted by the launch of the latest Zelda game. The Zelda edition of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller debuted at number 20 but was in short supply. A Switch Carry Case tie-in with Zelda also entered the charts at number 32 and has sold out.