European Console Market Trends for January 2023
In January of 2023, sales of video game consoles across Europe, excluding Germany and the United Kingdom, reached 493,000 units. This marked a rise of about 15.5 percent compared with January 2022, a growth noted by GamesIndustry.biz in its coverage of regional market dynamics. The surge is largely attributed to unusually strong interest in Sony’s PlayStation 5, reflecting a broader pattern of pent-up demand for the next generation console and a willingness among consumers to upgrade after supply constraints eased in several markets. Although GamesIndustry.biz did not publish exact PS5 figures, the outlet reported a 202 percent year-on-year increase in PS5 sales for January, signaling a dramatic shift in console uptake at the start of 2023.
Within the same period, the Nintendo Switch remained a solid second in overall sales. However, sales for Nintendo’s hybrid system declined by about 11 percent year over year, illustrating the ongoing competition among major console platforms and the shifting preferences of European gamers. Following the Switch, the Xbox Series X and Series S combined sales experienced a pronounced drop of roughly 32 percent. This pattern points to a nuanced market where momentum can swing between platforms based on new releases, price promotions, and consumer interest in alternative gaming formats.
Analysts from GamesIndustry.biz also highlighted a notable downturn in the purchase of disc-based and digital copies of games in January 2023. Total game sales reached 12.1 million units, which represented a decline of around 19 percent from the prior year. The data suggests that while console hardware faced robust demand, the ecosystem for physical and digital game sales faced pressures from market saturation, evolving consumer behaviors, and the continued maturation of new-generation hardware. In this context, the list of the five most-demanded titles included FIFA 23, Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and God of War: Ragnarok, reflecting broad appeal across genres from sports simulations to immersive open-world adventures.
Industry commentary attributes the January 2023 sales lull to the absence of a blockbuster new hit that could drive a wave of additional hardware and software purchases. The prior year had benefited from the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which helped propel interest and momentum across the market. The broader takeaway is that while console adoption can surge on strong product introductions, sustained growth often depends on fresh, widely appealing experiences that capture consumer imagination over the long term.
Additionally, reports from various market watchers note that subscription services and ongoing software bundles continue to influence purchasing decisions. In related coverage from socialbites.ca, it was noted that PlayStation Plus subscribers would receive a free copy of Horizon Forbidden West in February 2023, an example of how publishers and platform holders use bundled offers to bolster value perception and attract new and returning players. This kind of incentive structure underscores the evolving landscape where hardware sales are increasingly intertwined with software ecosystems and subscription-driven engagement, especially in European markets that drive regional revenue growth and platform competition.