UK Video Game Sales Decline in November Despite Strong Console Performance

The UK video game market experienced a 3% decline in sales during November, with 4.55 million games sold, according to GSD data. This drop is attributed to a weaker release lineup compared to the same period last year. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the top-selling game for the month, but its sales were 38% lower than its predecessor, Modern Warfare 2. However, the game's release helped mitigate the decline in sales. Other notable releases included Hogwarts Legacy on Nintendo Switch, which saw a 100% increase in sales due to the Switch release and Black Friday discounts. EA Sports FC 23 sold slightly fewer copies than FIFA 23 last year, but strong discounts during Black Friday helped boost sales. The Black Friday week saw 1.66 million games sold, led by EA Sports FC 24, with sales up 0.8% compared to last year. Console sales, on the other hand, experienced a significant surge, with 486,000 units sold, a 176% increase month-on-month and 32% increase year-on-year. The PS5 accounted for nearly half of the consoles sold, with sales up 149% month-on-month and 126% year-on-year. Xbox Series S and X sales jumped 231% month-on-month, while Nintendo Switch sales increased 175% month-on-month but decreased 19% year-on-year. Year-to-date, console sales are up 12%, driven by improved PS5 sales. The top 10 games for the month included Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, EA Sports FC 24, Hogwarts Legacy, and Spider-Man 2.