New game sales in Europe are down 29% compared to last year. The lack of games in 2024 has clearly shown its impact on the industry.
2024 in Europe, game It’s been a tough year for sales. According to data published by GamesIndustry, new game sales decreased by 29% compared to last year. After major productions such as Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy and Diablo IV, which were released in 2023, the lack of games of similar caliber in 2024 played an important role in this decline. In particular, anticipated productions such as Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Star Wars Outlaws fell below sales expectations.
The Big Game Missing in 2024
2023 is remembered as a golden year for the gaming world. Giant productions such as Baldur’s Gate 3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 left their mark on the industry by breaking sales records. However, 2024 could not continue this success. In particular, Star Wars Outlaws and Dragon Age: The Veilguard ranked 14th and 19th, respectively, in the new games list, while falling much lower in the general sales lists.
Some of the best-selling games of the year came from well-known series such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. However, the general picture shows that new games do not attract enough attention and players turn to previously released games.
2025 may be the year of the return of major productions in the gaming world. Huge games such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Monster Hunter Wilds and Grand Theft Auto VI are expected to be released. Additionally, the introduction of a new Nintendo console could bring a dynamic movement to the industry.
However, this decline in 2024 once again demonstrated the necessity of the gaming industry to constantly produce high-quality content. The lack of major productions can affect not only sales but also actors’ interest in the industry. Time will tell whether 2025 will reverse this negative situation.