Old Games, FIFA and Switch Dominated Europe in 2021: European Market Report

The European video game market in 2021 was characterized by the sustained popularity of legacy titles and the Nintendo Switch, even as the industry faced a slight decline in software sales compared to the pandemic-driven highs of 2020. Data provided by GSD indicates that 170 million games were sold across Europe, representing a 9.5% decrease from the previous year, though this figure remains 12.3% higher than 2019 levels. The market was heavily reliant on established franchises, with FIFA 22 securing the top spot and older titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 maintaining significant commercial relevance.

Hardware performance was notably impacted by supply chain constraints. While 7.1 million consoles were sold—a 20% increase over 2020—the Nintendo Switch emerged as the market leader. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S occupied the second and third positions, respectively, though their growth was stifled by persistent stock shortages. This hardware landscape also influenced accessory sales, which rose 5.4% to 20.2 million units, led by the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.

The analysis covers a broad range of European markets, utilizing GSD data that tracks physical and digital sales from major AAA publishers. A key finding is the longevity of older games, which accounted for 71% of total software sales in 2021. While new releases like Call of Duty: Vanguard and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury performed well, the overall market trend highlights a consumer preference for established, long-running properties and a continued reliance on the Nintendo Switch platform in the absence of sufficient next-generation console inventory.