The gaming industry continues to navigate a rocky landscape as February 2025 proved to be another challenging month. According to Circana, the overall U.S. gaming market saw a 6% decline compared to February 2024, marking a downward trend as revenue plummeted from $4.795 billion to $4.507 billion. Hardware sales took the hardest hit, with a staggering 25% drop from $341 million last year to just $256 million, the lowest since February 2020.
Despite the overall downturn, the PlayStation 5 emerged as the best-selling console for the month, followed closely by the Xbox Series S|X. In fact, PlayStation 5 sales are now 7% ahead of its predecessor, the PlayStation 4, after a year on the market. Meanwhile, Xbox Series sales continue to lag behind Xbox One by 19%, illustrating a notable shift in consumer preferences.
Accessory sales also dipped by 8%, down from $238 million to $220 million. However, the PlayStation Portal remains a standout, leading the list of top accessories by revenue in February. The gaming content sector experienced a 4% decline as well, with revenues decreasing from $4.217 billion to $4.031 billion.
Looking at the year-to-date statistics, the gaming market's revenue for the first two months of 2025 stands at $9.02 billion, an 11% decrease from $10.116 billion last year. The drop is primarily attributed to declines in hardware and accessory sales.
Despite these setbacks, February was not without its highlights, especially in new game releases. Top titles included Monster Hunter: Wilds, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Civilization VII. Notably, Monster Hunter: Wilds became the best-selling game in February and for the year in the U.S. market within just one day of its release. The game's sales surpassed those of Monster Hunter: Rise for the same period in March 2021, showcasing its immediate popularity.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II made waves as well, launching with five times the revenue of the original game released in February 2018. This upward trajectory continues to demonstrate the growing engagement and demand within the gaming community.
On mobile platforms, games such as MONOPOLY GO!, Royal Match, and Last War: Survival dominated the charts. The latter experienced a remarkable 17% increase in in-app purchase revenues in February, further solidifying its successful run.
February 2025 also made history as the first month when two games from the same intellectual property, Pokémon GO and Pokémon TCG Pocket, entered the top 10 mobile revenue charts in the U.S. market simultaneously. This achievement highlights the enduring appeal of the Pokémon franchise.
In a separate, exciting development for Monster Hunter fans, Capcom announced the 'Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase,' set to broadcast on March 25, 2025, at 11:00 p.m. Japan time. This showcase aims to provide attendees with the latest information about Monster Hunter: Wilds. The event will be mirrored by numerous popular streamers, allowing fans to engage with the showcase from various perspectives via approved YouTube channels.
In light of these announcements and the ongoing feedback from fans, concerns about the game's camera system have surfaced. Players have expressed dissatisfaction, revealing that the new camera tends to zoom in excessively and behaves erratically during monster engagements. Comparisons have been made between the camera functionality in Monster Hunter: Wilds and previous entries like Monster Hunter Rise, which did not face similar issues despite utilizing the same RE Engine.
One engaged player highlighted the disadvantages of the current camera system, stating, "The amount of times I've tried to walk back to the tail to cut it off and to have the camera f** off somewhere else has been annoying." Similar sentiments have echoed through various gaming forums, with many players pointing out that the best way to operate the camera currently is to switch focus aim from hold to toggle, rather than locking directly onto the monster.
While the excitement for Monster Hunter: Wilds remains palpable, the challenges with the camera system suggest that Capcom has room to improve and address player feedback. Fans appreciated the accessibility that Monster Hunter: Wilds* provided for newcomers, but they also relish the various elements from previous installments they wish to see incorporated into future updates.
As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it remains essential for developers to adapt to the needs and preferences of their community. The next month will be critical, particularly with Capcom's forthcoming showcase, as it may offer insights into how the company plans to address these concerns and engage with their dedicated player base.
