Overview of the Sales Surge

In an impressive turn of events, Europe witnessed a staggering 20% increase in video game sales last month, with a total of 17.6 million PC and console games flying off the shelves, according to the latest figures from GSD.

Top Selling Games

Leading the charge was EA Sports FC 25, securing the top position. Although its launch was slightly softer compared to the previous year—2% lower—the premium version of the game garnered an impressive 10% uptick in sales, indicating that die-hard fans were eager to access the game early.

Surprisingly, Ubisoft's classic, The Crew 2, claimed the second spot after an eye-catching promotional strategy that allowed players to purchase it for just €1. This gave the title renewed life years after its original launch in 2018.

However, the real star of the month was Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which dazzled sales charts by landing in third place. This highly anticipated sequel is proving to be nothing short of a phenomenon, currently ranking as the third best-selling new game of 2024 after only a few weeks since its release. It’s on pace to outstrip previous hits in the franchise, potentially becoming the best-selling Warhammer game of all time—an achievement that would eclipse the popular Total War: Warhammer series.

Also making a splash was PlayStation’s Astro Bot, which launched strongly, outperforming notable competitors such as Sonic Frontiers and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time in their first month of sales. This vibrant 3D platformer has attracted attention thanks to its innovative gameplay and nostalgic charm.

On the basketball front, NBA 2K25 saw a 1% increase in sales compared to last year's release, entering the chart at number six. Meanwhile, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom debuted at No. 8, although its physical sales lagged 15% behind the 2019 remake of Link’s Awakening due to the absence of digital sales data from Nintendo.

Rounding out the top ten was Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, marking a warm welcome back for the nostalgic racing franchise.

Hardware and Accessories Sales

In hardware news, approximately 335,000 consoles were sold across Europe, marking an 18% decrease from September of last year. The PlayStation 5 continues to dominate as the leading console, despite a 17% drop in sales. Surprisingly, the Nintendo Switch saw a modest rise of 1.5%, likely buoyed by the launch of the new Zelda-themed Switch Lite.

However, the Xbox Series X and S experienced a notable decline in sales—down by a staggering 58% compared to last year—despite the recent release of the highly-anticipated title, Starfield.

In the accessories market, sales also took a hit, dropping by 2.4%, with nearly 1.1 million accessories sold. The PS5’s DualSense controller remains the most sought-after gaming peripheral, aided by the release of a unique Astro Bot special edition variant.

Conclusion

As the gaming world prepares for the holiday season, these numbers paint a promising picture for developers and publishers alike. Will these trends continue into the year end? Stay tuned to find out!

European GSD September 2023 Top 10 (Digital + Physical Sales)

1. EA Sports FC 25 (EA) 2. The Crew 2 (Ubisoft) 3. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (Pullup Entertainment) 4. Astro Bot (Sony) 5. Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros) 6. NBA 2K25 (2K Games) 7. Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar) 8. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo) 9. The Crew Motorfest (Ubisoft) 10. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown (Big Ben) Overall, September 2023 was a landmark month for gaming in Europe, and with the holiday season approaching, the excitement is anticipated to escalate even further!