European Console Market Declines in 2024

The European gaming console market experienced significant declines in 2024, with hardware sales dropping across major platforms due to market saturation and limited new releases.

Market Analysis

Key findings include:

• A 21% year-over-year decline in overall console sales across the region
• PlayStation 5 Pro was the only major console release, failing to offset wider market contraction
• Xbox Series X/S suffered the steepest decline with 48% fewer units sold

Platform Performance Breakdown

Detailed sales performance by platform:

• PlayStation: -20% year-over-year (best performer)
• Nintendo Switch: -15% year-over-year
• Xbox Series X/S: -48% year-over-year

Software Market Trends

While hardware struggled, the software market showed modest growth with changing consumption patterns:

• 1% overall growth in PC/console game sales (188.1M units)
• Digital sales increased 15% to 131.6M units
• Physical sales declined 22% to 56.5M units

Market Outlook

Industry analysts expect recovery in 2025 with:

• Anticipated launch of Nintendo Switch successor
• Potential new hardware announcements from Microsoft and Sony
• Note: Data excludes several major European markets (UK, Germany, Netherlands, Austria)

Alternative Gaming Platforms

• Meta Quest 3S outperformed traditional consoles on US Amazon in 2024
• Growing interest in VR/AR hardware signals shifting consumer preferences

While 2024 proved challenging for traditional console manufacturers, industry observers believe upcoming hardware refreshes could revitalize the market in the coming year.