European Video Game Sales Experience Significant Decline in July

European video game sales saw a substantial decrease in July, attributed to console shortages and a lack of major new releases. Overall sales plummeted by 38% year-over-year, with 8.62 million units sold, despite the fact that July 2022 had one fewer week than July 2021. The absence of significant new releases was a primary factor in this decline. F1 22, released in June, was the best-selling game of the month, while the top new release, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, debuted at number seven. In comparison to the previous year, when F1 2021 and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD were the top sellers, this year's sales were notably weaker. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 performed well for its series, with launch sales increasing by 27% compared to Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition in 2020. However, it's essential to note that Nintendo does not disclose its digital sales figures, which could have potentially elevated the game's chart position. In terms of physical sales alone, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 ranked third, behind Nintendo Switch Sports and F1 22. F1 22 led the sales charts in Germany, Italy, and France, whereas Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was the top-selling game 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% decrease from the previous year. This decline is largely attributed to stock shortages of the PS5 and Xbox Series X and S. Year-to-date console sales have dropped by over 26%, primarily due to PS5 stock shortages, although sales of the Xbox Series S and X, and Nintendo Switch, have seen a slight increase. The sales of accessories, including toys-to-life products, reached 8.99 million, a decline of 9.4% from July 2021, with the PS5 DualSense Controller remaining the top accessory. Furthermore, 11.6 million points cards were sold, a decrease of 5.9% from the previous year, with the PlayStation Wallet Top-Up Card being the most popular product.