The European online game market skilled a slight 1% uptick in 2024, marking a 12 months of combined efficiency for the trade. In line with GSD information shared with VGC, a complete of 188.1 million PC and console video games have been bought throughout the continent. Regardless of this modest development, shifts in digital and bodily recreation gross sales highlighted evolving client preferences.
Digital Dominance and Bodily Decline
Digital gross sales surged in 2024, with 131.6 million video games bought—a sturdy 15% improve in comparison with 2023. In stark distinction, bodily recreation gross sales plummeted by 22%, accounting for simply 56.5 million items. This clear pattern towards digital buying continues to reshape the retail panorama for video games.
High Performers: EA Sports activities FC 25 and Name of Responsibility
EA Sports activities FC 25 claimed the crown as Europe’s best-selling recreation of 2024, regardless of a 5% dip in gross sales in comparison with its predecessor, FC 24. Activision Blizzard’s Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 6 secured second place, reaching a 9% improve in launch gross sales over Fashionable Warfare 3 from 2023—a notable achievement given its late-year launch.
Sony’s Helldivers 2 emerged as essentially the most profitable new IP, debuting at sixth place. Nevertheless, new releases collectively represented solely 27% of complete gross sales, down from 34% in 2023. In the meantime, legacy titles like Fallout 4 noticed a exceptional resurgence, climbing to nineteenth place with gross sales skyrocketing 183%, fueled by the thrill round Amazon’s adaptation and aggressive discounting.
Console Gross sales Drop Throughout the Board
The {hardware} market confronted important challenges, with console gross sales declining 21% general. Xbox Sequence X|S bore the brunt of this downturn, struggling a staggering 48% drop. Regardless of main the market, PlayStation 5 gross sales fell by 20%, whereas Nintendo Swap gross sales declined 15% in its eighth 12 months available on the market.
Beneath is the highest 10 best-selling video video games in Europe in 2024 (Digital and Bodily Gross sales):
1. EA Sports activities FC 25
2. Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 6
3. EA Sports activities FC 24
4. Grand Theft Auto 5
5. Hogwarts Legacy
6. Helldivers 2
7. Purple Useless Redemption 2
8. The Crew 2
9. It Takes Two
10. Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 3
