Black Friday Video Game Sales Dip in the UK: UK Monthly Charts 2024

The UK video game market experienced a significant contraction in November 2024, with total software sales reaching just over three million units, representing a 33% decline compared to the same period in 2023. This downturn is primarily attributed to two structural factors: the absence of a major blockbuster release comparable to the previous year’s Call of Duty launch and the exclusion of Black Friday sales from the November data window. During the specific week of Black Friday, sales reached 1.53 million units, an 8% decrease year-over-year.

Hardware and accessory segments also faced downward pressure, with console sales dropping 45% compared to November 2023, despite an 85% increase over October 2024. While the launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro accounted for 26% of all PS5 units sold during the month, the overall hardware decline reflects the shift in the Black Friday promotional calendar. Accessory sales followed a similar trend, falling 18% year-over-year to 1.05 million units.

Market performance for new software releases was mixed. Dragon Age: The Veilguard debuted as the highest-charting new title at number three, though its initial sales trajectory has been slower than several other major releases from earlier in the year. Similarly, Mario & Luigi: Brothership underperformed relative to recent Mario RPG titles, with physical sales trailing both Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and Super Mario RPG. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 maintained the top position in the monthly charts, followed by EA Sports FC 25, which saw a 22% decline in November sales compared to the prior year. Data for these findings was sourced from GSD and GfK, covering both physical and digital sales where available.