The European gaming market experienced notable challenges throughout 2024, with sales of new games dropping significantly. According to Christopher Dring from GamesIndustry, new game sales saw a staggering decrease of 29% compared to the previous year, as reported during the latest episode of the GI Microcast show.
This year faced tough comparisons with 2023, which boasted impressive titles like Baldur's Gate 3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The lack of strong new releases this year left many fans and industry insiders surprised. During the podcast, Dring noted just how stark the difference was, remarking, "Sales of new games went down by 29% compared to last year"—a drop almost shocking enough to raise eyebrows across the board.
The harsh reality is driven home when considering the games released this year; neither Star Wars Outlaws nor Dragon Age: The Veilguard managed to find the success hoped for. Dring pointed out, "The Star Wars game of the year only got to number 45 in a year where there wasn't a lot of games coming out," which reflects broader industry apprehensions about shifting player preferences.
2024 has not only marked the absence of big blockbuster titles but also saw familiar franchises struggling to captivate audiences. Hardly rising to prominence, Dragon Age failed to find its audience, ranking 19th among new releases and dropping to 68th overall. The only notable successes were few, including Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, which managed to snag the 13th position overall.
Despite the decline, some games posted impressive numbers—most prominently, EA Sports FC 25. According to William D'Angelo's report from VGChartz, it reigned supreme among European sales, dominating charts and maintaining consistent player engagement.
Taking the spotlight domestically, the French gaming charts saw Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 take the crown as the top seller for week 50, 2024. D'Angelo reported, "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has retaken first place on the French charts for week 50, 2024," showcasing the enduring popularity of the franchise.
Following closely behind were Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, securing second and third places, respectively. Even though EA Sports FC 25 dropped from the top position to fourth, its continued presence among the top sellers indicates solid performance among sports games.
For the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S communities, sales reflect varied preferences; on PS5, notable games like Gran Turismo 7, Hogwarts Legacy, and Red Dead Redemption 2 remained prominent, demonstrating well-rounded interests among gamers.
Despite these bright spots, the overall sentiment surrounding the European gaming market is one of cautious optimism as 2025 approaches. Developers and publishers are eyeing upcoming releases with eagerness, potentially bringing back the blockbuster excitement once prevalent. Titles like Grand Theft Auto and Monster Hunter Wilds, slated for release next February, have already begun to stir interest and speculation.
The precarious state of the gaming industry, marked by diminishing new game sales, evidence of changing player preferences, and the cancellation or underperformance of significant titles, has prompted many to wonder what the future holds. Will 2025 revive the gaming market back to its former glory? Only time can tell, but for now, gamers and developers alike await the revival of blockbuster titles to reinvigorate interest and sales.
