Increased Game Sales in Europe: A July Overview
Last month, the European region witnessed a significant surge in game sales, with a combined total of 11.5 million PC and console games sold. This marks an impressive 35% increase compared to the same period last year.
The Shift to Digital Platforms
It comes as no surprise that the preferred method of buying games nowadays is through digital platforms. Out of the 11.5 million games sold, nearly 8 million were downloaded digitally, showcasing a remarkable 60% increase from 2022. On the other hand, physical game purchases accounted for the remaining 3.5 million, which still saw a slight 0.2% increase from the previous year.
These statistics were gathered from the Game Sales Data (GSD) reports for the month of July. GSD provides comprehensive insights into game sales, analyzing both physical and digital sales from major AAA publishers across all European countries.
July’s Sales Rankings
The sales rankings for July were greatly influenced by digital summer sale promotions on platforms like Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. As a result of these promotions, Grand Theft Auto 5 secured the coveted No.1 position, while Red Dead Redemption 2 closely followed at No.3. The significant discounts offered, particularly on PlayStation, contributed to a remarkable resurgence in sales for these titles.
While the charts were dominated by established games, a noteworthy newcomer was Nintendo Switch exclusive title Pikmin 4, which debuted at No.11. It’s worth noting that if Nintendo made its digital download figures public, Pikmin 4 would likely have achieved a higher ranking. Nevertheless, the game witnessed an impressive 80% increase in sales during its first two weeks compared to its predecessor, Pikmin 3: Deluxe.
Hardware Sales Trends
Every month, hardware sales play a crucial role in the overall gaming industry figures. In July, over 490,000 gaming consoles were sold across Europe (excluding the UK and Germany). While this represents an impressive 63% increase compared to July 2022, it does indicate a slight 2% decrease from the previous month.
The PlayStation 5 dominated console sales in Europe, experiencing a staggering 244% increase compared to July last year. Promotions and discounts during July resulted in a 25% boost in PS5 sales compared to June. On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch witnessed a 10% decline in sales compared to the previous year, highlighting the need for a new console release to reclaim the No.1 position.
Looking Ahead
With summer sales coming to an end and several highly anticipated games slated for release in the fourth quarter of this year, the gaming landscape in Europe is set for further excitement. It will be interesting to observe the trajectory of Grand Theft Auto 5 in the coming months and see if it maintains its No.1 position. Since its original release in 2013, GTA V has enjoyed multiple stints at the top of the charts.
Editor Notes
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