European Video Game Sales Experience 1.7% Uptick in 2023

The European video game market witnessed a 1.7% increase in sales during 2023, with 182 million PC and console games sold. This growth is attributed to the strong performance of the PS5 and Hogwarts Legacy. According to GSD data, which tracks physical and digital game sales across major European markets, EA Sports FC 24 led the sales charts, despite a 9% decline in sales compared to FIFA 23 in 2022. Hogwarts Legacy secured the second spot, achieving the highest sales for a non-EA football game since 2017. The new Call of Duty experienced a disappointing year, with sales down 32% compared to the previous year. Other notable performers include Diablo 4, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Super Mario Bros Wonder. The Top Ten was rounded off by Spider-Man 2. Rockstar had a strong year, with GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 performing well. The physical chart saw Zelda at No.3 and Mario at No.4. New games in the Top 20 included Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Assassin's Creed Mirage, and Resident Evil 4 Remake. The Top 100 saw the inclusion of Dead Space Remake, Final Fantasy 16, and Mortal Kombat 1. In terms of platforms, PC led the sales, followed by PS5, Switch, PS4, and Xbox Series S and X. The UK remained the largest European market for games, followed by Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. PS5 sales surged 177% across Europe, driven by the resolution of previous stock issues. The console sales were also boosted by the growth of PlayStation 4, which saw a 671% increase in sales. Accessories sales rose 9% year-on-year, with the PS5 DualSense controller and Xbox Series Wireless controller leading the pack.