Video game sales in the UK fell by 29.4% in the first half of 2024.
In physical form, the decline was even more pronounced compared to last year, reaching 40% to £111.7m. Digital sales, on the other hand, fell 23% compared to 2023 to £236.9m.
these numbers, Published By the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA), it reflects, according to the organization, a “simplified release schedule.”
According to ERA President Kim Bailey, “The first half of the year has been tough for the video game business due to the absence of major releases, but we are optimistic about a strong second half, which is traditionally a time for blockbuster releases.”
In the first half of 2024, the most popular release was Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which sold less than its predecessor. But last year, we released The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Anyway, Bailey says the situation should improve with Star Wars Outlaws arriving in August, EA Sports FC 25 and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom in September, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows in October and Dragon Age Veilguard at the end of the year.
Curiously, while video game sales in the UK have fallen, sales of films (DVD, Blu-ray, digital) and music (vinyl, CD, downloads) have risen.
Music sales rose 7.9%, driven primarily by Record Store Day sales and the release of Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department. In movies, while physical sales declined, digital sales increased significantly.
Despite this decline, video games continue to move more money than films and music. Specifically, in the first six months of 2024, £348.6m was sold in video games, compared to £213.7m in films/TV series and £163.8m in music.
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