Video Game Console Hardware Sales Are Way Down in One Region

European Console Market Experiences Sales Dip in 2024

The European video game console market faced a significant downturn in 2024, primarily attributed to market saturation and a shortage of new major console releases. Despite the launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro, a refreshed version of the existing PS5, overall console sales plummeted by 21% compared to 2023.

Individual console performance reflected this trend. While the PS5 Pro launch helped Sony maintain a relatively stronger position, its sales still decreased by 20%. The Nintendo Switch saw a 15% decline, and the Xbox Series X/S experienced a dramatic 48% drop. This downturn is largely attributed to the aging console market, with the original PS5 and Xbox Series consoles launching in 2020 and the Nintendo Switch in 2017. The success of the Meta Quest 3S, which outsold all major consoles on Amazon US in 2024, further suggests a broader trend of console market stagnation.

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Shifting Game Sales Landscape

While console sales faltered, the overall European gaming market experienced a modest 1% growth in 2024, reaching 188.1 million units sold (PC and console combined). However, this growth was largely driven by a significant increase in digital game sales (15% rise to 131.6 million), while physical game sales dropped considerably (22% decline to 56.5 million). This clearly indicates a shift towards digital distribution.

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Outlook for 2025

The year 2025 is anticipated to be more positive for the European gaming market, primarily due to the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2. However, it's important to note that the reported sales figures exclude several major European markets, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. Inclusion of these markets could potentially alter the overall 2024 sales picture.

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