Q1 PC and Console Game Sales Down 11% Across Europe

European PC and console game sales experienced a notable decline during the first quarter of 2023, with total software sales dropping 11% year-on-year to 39 million units. This downturn is attributed to a lighter release schedule compared to the same period in 2022, which featured several high-profile titles. Despite the overall market contraction, Hogwarts Legacy emerged as the quarter's top-selling game, marking the fastest-selling release in the region since 2017, excluding the FIFA franchise. Resident Evil 4 secured the top spot for the month of March, outperforming other recent horror titles.

In contrast to the software decline, the European console hardware market saw a significant resurgence. Driven by improved supply chain availability for the PlayStation 5, console sales across selected European markets surged 41% for the first quarter, with 1.5 million units sold. The PlayStation 5 specifically recorded a 369% year-on-year increase, which helped offset double-digit declines in sales for both the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X/S consoles. This hardware growth also positively impacted the accessories market, which saw a 5% year-on-year increase in unit sales for the first quarter.

The analysis utilizes GSD data, which aggregates physical game sales across major European markets alongside digital download data from most major publishers. The geographic scope for software covers various European nations, while hardware and accessory data are focused on a specific subset of countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The findings highlight a divergent trend where hardware availability is fueling peripheral growth, even as the software market faces a period of adjustment following a year of heavy release activity.