Who could have predicted that video game sales in Europe would soar in July despite the absence of new game releases? The evidence speaks for itself: a whopping 2.4 million video games were sold during the month, marking a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
What’s truly remarkable is that the top ten best-selling games for July were mostly older titles, with the exception of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD at No.9. Surprisingly, the month’s top seller was EA Sports FC 24, an older game. This is quite an achievement, especially considering the European Championships took place during part of July, undoubtedly boosting the sales of this football game.
Notably, gaming promotions in July led to some unexpected titles making the charts. One prime example is Hitman Absolution, a game from 2012, which climbed to No.8 due to a free game promotion on Amazon Prime.
Even without major game launches, console hardware sales took a hit, dropping by 46% compared to the previous year. The top-selling console for the month was the PS5, although it also saw a significant drop of 56% in sales. The Nintendo Switch came in at No.2, but also experienced a 29% decrease in sales, and the Xbox Series family of consoles took third place with a 42% decline.
Accessories sales were also down by nearly 20% compared to the previous year, with the PS5 DualSense controller leading the pack in terms of sales.
Despite the lack of major releases, the top ten best-selling games for July were an interesting mix of genres and publishers. EA Sports FC 24 took the top spot, followed by Grand Theft Auto 5, Elden Ring, Red Dead Redemption 2, Hogwarts Legacy, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, Battlefield 5, Hitman Absolution, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, and It Takes Two.
Digital data for game sales included titles from participating companies sold via various platforms, while physical data only covered selected European markets. The console hardware and accessories sales were also limited to specific European countries.
It’s clear that although console sales dipped, the fondness for video game entertainment in Europe remains unwavering. With new releases on the horizon, it will be fascinating to see how the numbers shift in the coming months. So, stay tuned for more gaming surprises in the near future!
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