European Video Game Sales Decline in July Due to Release Drought

European video game sales experienced a significant decline in July, primarily attributed to console shortages and a lack of major new releases. The combined sales of physical and digital games dropped by 38% year-over-year, totaling 8.62 million units sold. Notably, July 2022 had one fewer week than July 2021, yet the sales figures still underperformed. The scarcity of new releases was the main contributor to this decline. F1 22, released in June, was the best-selling game of the month, while the highest-ranking new release was Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which debuted at number seven. In comparison to the previous year, F1 2021 and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD were the top-selling games, with the former launching in July. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 demonstrated a 27% increase in launch sales compared to Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition in 2020. However, it's essential to consider that Nintendo does not disclose download figures, which might have elevated the game's chart position. In terms of pure physical sales, the game secured the third spot, following Nintendo Switch Sports and F1 22. F1 22 emerged as the top-selling game in Germany, Italy, and France, whereas Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga claimed the top spot in the UK. The Nintendo Switch maintained its position as the best-selling console in Europe, with 297,420 consoles sold across tracked markets, representing a 48% decline from the previous year. Console sales have decreased by over 26% year-to-date, primarily due to PS5 stock shortages. The sales of accessories and points cards also experienced declines of 9.4% and 5.9%, respectively. The PS5 DualSense Controller and PlayStation Wallet Top-Up Card remained the most popular accessory and points card, respectively.