PS5 Edges Ahead of Xbox Series X and S and F1 22 Holds Pole Position: UK Monthly Charts

The UK video game market experienced a contraction in July 2022, with both hardware and software sales declining compared to previous periods. Console hardware sales fell 16% month-on-month to approximately 104,000 units, contributing to a 38% year-to-date decline. While the PlayStation 5 saw the smallest relative drop in sales among major platforms, it remains constrained by ongoing stock shortages. Notably, the console's performance has been bolstered by official Horizon Forbidden West bundles, which accounted for 50% of PS5 hardware sales between May and July.

Software performance mirrored the hardware trend, with 1.79 million physical and digital games sold, representing a 17% decrease year-on-year and a 32% drop from June 2022. F1 22 maintained the top position in the monthly charts for the second consecutive month. Other notable software trends included the continued presence of older titles like The Quarry and the debut of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 at number 13. Because the monthly GSD software figures exclude console bundles, high-performing titles like Horizon Forbidden West do not appear in the software rankings despite their significant impact on hardware sales.

The accessory market also saw a slight downturn, with sales falling 5.7% month-on-month to 551,038 units. DualSense controllers remained the top-selling accessories, while specialized hardware, such as Logitech racing wheels, experienced a surge in demand attributed to promotional retail events. Data for this analysis was derived from GfK UK panel units for hardware and GSD figures for software, covering the four-week period of July 2022.