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[ArtHands]

Fallout 4 rules the roost in April | UK Monthly Charts

Fallout 4 was comfortably the best-selling game of April in the UK, according to the latest GSD data. It was a quiet mo…

www.gamesindustry.biz

Sales of video game consoles continue to struggle in the UK, with hardware sales down 39% over April to 71,000 units sold (GfK panel data).

All three major platforms continue to post declines, with overall console sales down nearly 30% year-to-date. So far this year, Xbox Series console sales are down just under 25%, PS5 sales are down just over 25%, and Switch sales are down 38%. It's a situation that's likely to continue until we have sight of new hardware or major game releases to help boost sales.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Sony has to drop the price and Nintendo has to drop the SW2

 

[Aguero9320]

Isn't this lacking context though? Sales were up last year due to shortages easing - expecting that to continue is unrealistic.

Yes I understand the demand for infinite growth, yes it is stupid. That said, I do think the console market is going to wither and die unless something changes. Archaic thinking will make that inevitable.

 

[K' Dash]

The worst gen of all is the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[Wishmaster92]

What a fucking trainwreck

 

[rm082e]

PS5 is more expensive than when it launched, the Switch is ancient, and the Series consoles are a deserted waste land for exclusives.

In generations past, the PlayStation console would have gotten at least one price cut by now, maybe even two. If the PS5 were $299, it would likely have a bigger group of people to sell to. They've just tapped out the people who can/will pay the launch price for it.

 

[feynoob]

Isn't this lacking context though? Sales were up last year due to shortages easing - expecting that to continue is unrealistic.

Yes I understand the demand for infinite growth, yes it is stupid. That said, I do think the console market is going to wither and die unless something changes. Archaic thinking will make that inevitable.

People shifted from SP games to live service games.
The rise of fortnite and other f2P games took most of people's attention.

 

[diffusionx]

Despite what the "experts" say, this economy is absolutely terrible for most people, and a $500+ console is a lot more difficult to justify when your food costs are 30-50% more than they were two years ago. Especially if the games you play are still coming out on the console you already own

 

[DenchDeckard]

 

[jm89]

It's a situation that's likely to continue until we have sight of new hardware or major game releases to help boost sales

Or how about a price drop?

Especially the ps5 which got a very decent bump when it did go on discount, xbox didn't really see any decent boost.

If sony continue with the current price it will continue with big YOY drops.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Do any of you here or anybody anywhere bother to think about where the world economy is at? It's like saying that a team that is injured and have to starters are out and couldn't beat another good team yet we still criticize them for the same level of thing in the soccer world. Is there any other rational people that see where the world is right now especially in the west and what's happening over inflation. I miss you some person that has managed to make more money and outpace inflation especially in the united states, how would you know the reasons for people tightening their belts.

There is analytical reasons such as xbox's demise, lack of games around this time of the year, and obviously Nintendo slowing down with it's successor incoming.

Can anybody have a rational take instead of looking for the hyperbole for people to argue and I guess we would have nothing to talk about other than you know the games itself, which is our main hobby which we should love.

 

[GHG]

How to lie with statistics 101.

 

[Mr Hyde]

A PlayStation showcase is long overdue to get the hype juices flowing. But as always, it's crickets and deafening silence.

 

[midnightAI]

A PlayStation showcase is long overdue to get the hype juices flowing. But as always, it's crickets and deafening silence.

End of the month (29th? They only announce these thing 1 week prior (2 weeks max))

 

[Mr Hyde]

End of the month (29th? They only announce these thing 1 week prior (2 weeks max))

Is it confirmed or just rumored? I don't listen to anything Twitter leakers say.

 

[kyussman]

I certainly picked the right gen to sit it out.....it's been fucking awful,things are going to have to turn around big time for me to come back to gaming,I'm not getting any younger.

 

[kruis]

PS5 is more expensive than when it launched, the Switch is ancient, and the Series consoles are a deserted waste land for exclusives.

In generations past, the PlayStation console would have gotten at least one price cut by now, maybe even two. If the PS5 were $299, it would likely have a bigger group of people to sell to. They've just tapped out the people who can/will pay the launch price for it.

Consoles have become too expensive. During the PS1/PS2 days there were almost annual price cuts and both the PS1 and PS2 were ludicrously cheap during their final years on the market. At the same time there were tons of cheap rereleases of older games so even the most price conscious birthday present shoppers were tempted to get a games console.

But now prices are stagnant for years on end. How do Sony and co. think they can reach new markets when their console offerings are still too expensive for a part of the population?

 

[drganon]

How to lie with statistics 101.

It is a thread by arthands...

 

[rm082e]

Consoles have become too expensive. During the PS1/PS2 days there were almost annual price cuts and both the PS1 and PS2 were ludicrously cheap during their final years on the market. At the same time there were tons of cheap rereleases of older games so even the most price conscious birthday present shoppers were tempted to get a games console.

But now prices are stagnant for years on end. How do Sony and co. think they can reach new markets when their console offerings are still too expensive for a part of the population?

I don't think they expect to reach new markets with the current pricing. They're getting squeezed because the supply chain can't support those constantly falling materials prices. Essentially, they're just a middle-man in this game. If the cost to produce the hardware for them isn't going down, they can't cut the retail price.

 

[Hudo]

A PlayStation showcase is long overdue to get the hype juices flowing. But as always, it's crickets and deafening silence.

Any hope of a new Motorstorm, Wipeout or Resistance being announced?

 

[GHG]

It is a thread by arthands...

To be fair, it's Dring drawing conclusions while failing to take in to account the context of previous year's along with the relative life cycles of the various consoles.

 

[midnightAI]

Is it confirmed or just rumored? I don't listen to anything Twitter leakers say.

Rumoured from several sources now to be latter half of the month, 29th is my guess,they like to do these things on a Wednesday and last year it was May 24th (announced May 17th)

 

[XXL]

Some more context, since they love to leave that out.

April 2023 UK

Special edition Zelda console boosts Nintendo Switch sales | UK Monthly Charts

It was a tough April for the UK PC and console games market, with sales down on games and hardware. Just under 111,000 …

www.gamesindustry.biz

PS5 sales fell 35% over March, but is up 15% compared with April last year. Meawhile, Xbox Series S and X sales are down 32% over March, but up 8% over the same period the year before.

However, the big winner of the month was the Nintendo Switch, which was up 26% over March and 30% up over April 2022. This was mostly due to the new Zelda edition of the console, which was released right at the end of the month (and two weeks before the game), but it still managed to account for 29% of all Switch consoles sold last month.

 

[Magic Carpet]

I wonder if the PS5 and Series X I traded in at Gamestop are still sitting on the shelf.

 

[FIREKNIGHT2029]

PS5 price drop and Playstation Showcase needed.

 

[XXL]

PS5 price drop and Playstation Showcase needed.

The PS5 should have dropped price already in my opinion.

 

[Mr Hyde]

Any hope of a new Motorstorm, Wipeout or Resistance being announced?

Not gonna happen with modern Sony. I want a new Infamous or Sly Raccoon or something creative like Puppeteer or Tearaway. Hell I'll settle for a new Uncharted. But knowing Sony it's gonna be more The Last of Us, Horizon and God of War, and even though I enjoy those franchises I'm kinda tired of them. Especially TLOU and the dark and moody atmosphere and serious tone. Motorstorm coming back would be awesome. Apocalypse was pretty cool. A new one with modern tech would be

 

[Mr Hyde]

Rumoured from several sources now to be latter half of the month, 29th is my guess,they like to do these things on a Wednesday and last year it was May 24th (announced May 17th)

Aight, let's see what the future has in store.

 

[feynoob]

How to lie with statistics 101.

How is it a lie? Its happening before our eyes.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Dring spinning boring facts and selling them as some sort of alarmist revelations. Again.

Sigh, no wonder Elsevier dropped the whole gaming media shtick, including GI.biz.

 

[feynoob]

To be fair, it's Dring drawing conclusions while failing to take in to account the context of previous year's along with the relative life cycles of the various consoles.

Previous year happened because of covid, otherwise it would have been a shit year.
Too many studios delayed their games.

 

[mayham2199]

With all the top live service games still being available on past gens this isn't surprising. Eventually those users will have to upgrade though. This might actually end up working out better for playstation. By the time those users decide to upgrade the Xbox brand will be so diminished that Xbox might lose all those players to playstation or PC. If those people were forced to upgrade early in the gen they might have stuck with Xbox before all the doom and gloom.

 

[Kilau]

I thought this guy quit twitter because of meanies.

 

[Banjo64]

No jobs, no money, every sector allowed to endlessly price gauge with no regulation.

 

[adamsapple]

How to lie with statistics 101.

He's giving numerical figures on how each console is 25% or more down from last year.

At a point y'all need to drop the hate-boner on 'who' is saying it and focus on 'what' is being said

 

[Punished Miku]

At a point y'all need to drop the hate-boner on 'who' is saying it and focus on 'what' is being said

We're years from that happening.

 

[splattered]

Wait. i thought it was just Xbox hardware suffering? Even Switch is doing badly? Damn...

 

[Lunarorbit]

Are they horrible or is it just normal in this gens life cycle? Hyperbolic headlines are all the rage, man.

Could it be that xbox doesn't care about console sales, the ps5 has been out for years, and the switch is at the end of its life cycle. Hmmmmm. No. The industry is doomed.

Just like that Alanah pierce tweet. So much doom. This shit is cyclical and by forecasting doom constantly it becomes a self full filling prophecy

 

[feynoob]

He's giving numerical figures on how each console is 25% or more down from last year.

At a point y'all need to drop the hate-boner on 'who' is saying it and focus on 'what' is being said

The guy has data, these guys dont.
I know who to believe.

GHG go back to your cave now

 

[twilo99]

Gen Z doesn’t care about consoles.. it will be a problem

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Chris Dring continues to bend the truth when he wants to. And it feeds the most annoying people

• PS5 was still getting over demand issues in the UK this time last year
• Hogwarts legacy was still selling in big numbers, helping to shift units
• The PS4 at this time in the cycle had already received a price cut
• The PS4 at this time in the cycle had already been boosted by the PS4 Pro
• The PS4 did not experience a pandemic at this point in its life cycle

That Chris Dring adds contexts that sensationalizes but doesn't add context that informs, suggests that he is either a poor analyst or he has an agenda.

All of this is important in understanding whether the PS5 is ACTUALLY tracking behind the PS4.

He claims that this is a horrible year, but is it? The Switch is in natural decline it came out 7 years ago. How does this year compare to 2017? Oh wait, a succesful new Nintendo device came out that year?

It's important when comparing things that you explain why things are different. It's why we look at Month over Month and why we look at Year or Year.

If I provided a slide saying that YoY something was down 30% but didn't explain why, I'd hear about it. Chris Dring doesn't work for us, but you'd think in the capacity as a journalist, he'd be more forthcoming.

 

[Punished Miku]

Gen Z doesn’t care about consoles.. it will be a problem

Imagine the gen after this one. Will be interesting.

 

[H-I-M]

PS5 had record high numbers in 2023 (due to the chip shortage ending), makes sense that it would decline and stabilize now.
The Switch is in its last year, a decline is to be expected.


Xbox had record low numbers in 2023 and is still dropping lower in 2024, which we obviously love to see.

 

[Darsxx82]

You have

_Consoles whose price is even higher than what they had at their launch.

_Price that was previously prohibitive for the casual player, now in the middle of a recession even more so.

_ Lack of big releases, general cuts in the industry, controversies, longer development times...

_ New generations less interested in consoles and with more platforms to play these types of games.

_ Players who only play the big GASS franchises (Fornite, COD, GTA, FIFA etc...) and can continue playing them from their PS4/XBO

That is to say, there are many conditions and reasons that can explain this situation. Personally, I think sales are better than I could expect under such conditions...

A general price reduction is necessary but that can be a big hit to the accounts as they accumulate losses. Surely PS5Pro can help boost PS5 sales, but the vast majority of those sales will be from hardcore people who are already PS5 users. The interest should also be in boosting sales of the original version and attracting new users and sell more software. Of course, XSeries needs much more than an official discount that it has been crying out for for a long time. Controversies, insecurity, no marketing... On the Nintendo side, I'm starting to think that Switch 2 is going to arrive late and in a different economic climate and that is going to affect it when it comes to trying to achieve the success of the Switch.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Chris Dring continues to bend the truth when he wants to. And it feeds the most annoying people

• PS5 was still getting over demand issues in the UK this time last year
• Hogwarts legacy was still selling in big numbers, helping to shift units
• The PS4 at this time in the cycle had already received a price cut
• The PS4 at this time in the cycle had already been boosted by the PS4 Pro
• The PS4 did not experience a pandemic at this point in its life cycle

That Chris Dring adds contexts that sensationalizes but doesn't add context that informs, suggests that he is either a poor analyst or he has an agenda.

All of this is important in understanding whether the PS5 is ACTUALLY tracking behind the PS4.

He claims that this is a horrible year, but is it? The Switch is in natural decline it came out 7 years ago. How does this year compare to 2017? Oh wait, a succesful new Nintendo device came out that year?

It's important when comparing things that you explain why things are different. It's why we look at Month over Month and why we look at Year or Year.

If I provided a slide saying that YoY something was down 30% but didn't explain why, I'd hear about it. Chris Dring doesn't work for us, but you'd think in the capacity as a journalist, he'd be more forthcoming.

While everything you say is true, it doesn't stop these suits from pushing the panic buttons. Budgets will be cut, studios will be closed down...We've got more of this ahead of us until the reset has occurred.

 

[Fabieter]

It will only get worse for consoles.

 

[FunkMiller]

One company is a bunch of greedy cunts.

One company is still selling a seven year old potato.

One company is a bunch of greedy, useless cunts.

Were we expecting anything else?

 

[ManaByte]

A PlayStation showcase is long overdue to get the hype juices flowing. But as always, it's crickets and deafening silence.

People simply can't justify a $500 console right now. All the games in the world won't change that when the price of entry is prohibitive.

 

[Punished Miku]

It will only get worse for consoles.

I think Switch 2 is going to be electric if the launch titles are insane. Mario Kart 9, etc. Gotta keep the price down though. Maybe $400 at the absolute most.

 

[ManaByte]

I think Switch 2 is going to be electric if the launch titles are insane. Mario Kart 9, etc. Gotta keep the price down though. Maybe $400 at the absolute most.

It'll be $299.