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[Luminoth-4545]

Credit: Welfare from InstallBase

State of the market

December 2024 projected U.S. consumer spending on video game hardware, content and accessories declined 8.9% when compared to a year ago, to $7.5B. Spending during the 2024 year fell 1.1% compared to 2023, to $58.7B. December video game content spending fell 5% when compared to a year ago, to $5.8B. A 21% drop in content spending on console combined with a 1% decline in mobile offset 13% growth in the PC, Cloud & Non-Console VR segment and an 11% increase in non-mobile subscriptions.

Video game content spending during the 2024 year increased by 2%, to $50.6B. This is the 2nd highest total for video game content spending in U.S. history, trailing only 2021’s $52.0 billion. 2024 content spending growth across the mobile, non-mobile subscription and the PC, cloud and non-console VR segments offset an 11% dip in spending on video game content for console platforms.

Hardware

December video game hardware spending dropped 29% vs YA, to $1.1B. Spending on PlayStation 5 hardware fell 18% when compared to Dec 2023, with Xbox Series and Switch each declining by 38%. Annual spending on video game hardware finished 25% lower than 2023, at $4.9B.

PlayStation 5 finished as December’s best-selling hardware platform in both units and dollars, with Switch ranking 2nd across both measures. For the 2024 year, Xbox Series ranked #2 in hardware spending, while Switch placed 2nd in unit sales. PlayStation 5 led 2024 in both.

49% of PlayStation 5 and 43% of Xbox Series hardware units sold in December did not include a physical disc drive. For the 2024 year, all-digital editions comprised 45% of all PlayStation 5 units sold during the year, and 44% of Xbox Series.

PlayStation 5 now ranks 3rd in lifetime hardware dollar sales in U.S. history, trailing only Switch and Xbox 360. The platform currently ranks 11th in lifetime unit sales.

Software

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 finished as both the best-selling premium video game of December and the 2024 year. Call of Duty was the best-selling video game franchise in U.S. full game dollar sales (excluding add-on content) for a record 16th consecutive year.

EA Sports College Football 25 finished as the #2 best-selling game of 2024, while ranking 1st on Xbox platforms. EA Sports College Football 25 is the best-selling sports video game in U.S. history (full game dollar sales, excluding add-on content).

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was December’s only new release to rank among the top 20 best-sellers of the month. It was 14th overall on the December sales chart, while placing 4th on Xbox platforms.

Mobile

Sensor Tower: Top 10 mobile games by U.S. consumer spend in December and rank change vs Nov: MONOPOLY GO!, Roblox (+1), Royal Match (-1), Last War: Survival (+1), Candy Crush Saga (-1), Pokémon TCG Pocket, Whiteout Survival, Township, Coin Master, and Call of Duty: Mobile (+5).

“Roblox retook the #2 spot on the top 10 games by US mobile consumer spend for the first time since August,” said Samuel Aune of Sensor Tower. “Roblox had a great December, with consumer spend up 24% over November." “Another game that saw impressive growth in the last month of 2024 was Call of Duty: Mobile, which grew US consumer spend by 20% with the beginning of Season 11: Winter War 2,” said Aune.

Accessories

December consumer spending on Accessories was flat compared to a year ago, at $671 million, and finished the year 6% higher than 2023 ($3.2 billion). Headset and Headphone spending finished 2024 5% higher than 2023, at $951 million. PlayStation Portal was the best-selling accessory in consumer spending during both December and the 2024 year. The PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller Midnight Black led both time periods in accessory units sold.

Multiplatform Software Charts

Playstation Software for December

Xbox Software for December

Nintendo Software for December

Multiplatform Software 2024

Playstation Software 2024

Xbox Software 2024

Nintendo Software 2024

Playstation Monthly Active User Engagement

Xbox Monthly Active User Engagement

Steam Monthly Active User Engagement

Rankings
Units: PS5 > NSW > XBS
Revenue: PS5 > NSW > XBS

Unit Estimates
PS5: 1390K
NSW: 840K
XBS: 540K

 

[zapper]

indiana jones 14th?

 

[Mr Moose]

Astro Bot beating Indiana Jones in December isn't something I thought I would be seeing.
Edit: Oh shit, and Spider-Man 2.
Maybe with the good WoM sales will pick up for Dr. Jones in January.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Rankings
Units: PS5 > NSW > XBS
Revenue: PS5 > NSW > XBS

Xbox selling less than an 8 year old handheld that’s been winding down for a good while now.

Embarrassing

 

[RetroGamingUK]

A soccer game being one of the best selling games in the US will never feel right to me.

Unthinkable a decade a go!

With the World Cup being in the USA next year EAFC 26 is going to make a killing.

 

[jm89]

 

[tkscz]

Odd observation but I'm surprised REEEEE doesn't hate Switch owners sense that version of Hogwarts Legacy seems to be the one keeping that game in the top 20 month after month.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Indiana jones gonna need that ps5 release desperately with those sales

 

[LordOcidax]

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 was the best selling game of the year Microsoft right now.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 was the best selling game of the year Microsoft right now.

CoD is the best selling game every year

Microsoft paid $70B for it

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

I see that Astro Bot jumped from 13 in November to 8 in December. Some good word of mouth in play there (cheers TGA2024)!

 

[LordOcidax]

CoD is the best selling game every year

Microsoft paid $70B for it

Make sense

 

[DForce]

I'm not surprised by the Indiana Jones performance.

It's not just the low CCU, it's how the game is tracking overall.

It's not in the Top 50 Paid Games on Xbox.

It was in the top 40 for one week in the UK sales chart. It's not in the top 90 on Top Paid Games list on Xbox UK.

It was tracking poorly after the first week. It was nowhere to be seen in the top 100 on Amazon video game sales.

 

[adamsapple]

I'm not surprised by the Indiana Jones performance.


It was tracking poorly after the first week. It was nowhere to be seen in the top 100 on Amazon video game sales.

It's the 4th best selling game on Xbox in the month, tho.

 

[Woopah]

Few initial thoughts:

• Expected result for PS5 and Xbox Series but that Switch decline is higher than expected. I wonder if it is related to price or unit sales
• PS5 already being 3rd ever for revenue is crazy
• Clearly was a good idea for WB to port Hogwarts to Switch
• Nice to see the success of Sonic, Jamboree and Astro Bot, and for Helldivers, Zelda and Ragnarok to be back in the charts

 

[Killjoy-NL]

vaibhavpisal

Astro Bot at #8 after 3 months and Indy at #14 at release on multiple platforms.

What does this mean?

 

[DForce]

It's the 4th best selling game on Xbox in the month, tho.

14th overall for the month. That means sales were low.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 was the best selling game of the year Microsoft right now.

Plus MW3 charting in the top 10 of the year shows COD just prints money

 

[Killjoy-NL]

It's the 4th best selling game on Xbox in the month, tho.

That's a low bar, tbh.

 

[Synastry]

14th overall for the month. That means sales were low.

That dude is clearly looking for a win so let him one that one.

 

[adamsapple]

14th overall for the month. That means sales were low.

Ok, but your quote is talking about its place in teh Xbox top paid apps, it's the 4th top selling game on the platform for the month.

 

[Thief1987]

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 was the best selling game of the year Microsoft right now.

After spending 70B on it? It's kinda pathetic flex

 

[RetroGamingUK]

It's the 4th best selling game on Xbox in the month, tho.

Games barely sell on Xbox so that means nothing really.

Indie being 14th on multiplatform during launch month proves this.

 

[LordCBH]

Indiana Jones being 14 despite being really good. Oof.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

vaibhavpisal

Astro Bot at #8 after 3 months and Indy at #14 at release on multiple platforms.

What does this mean?

It means gamepass is doing great.

 

[Luminoth-4545]

For December 2023 I have

PS5: 1520K
NSW: 1240K
XBS: 1120K

A pure percentage drop in units would mean this for December 2024 (not adjusting for price differences)

PS5: 1250K
NSW: 770K
XBS: 690K

All consoles should be a little higher due to costing less versus last year (especially PS5 with the cheaper digital edition selling a large amount) just waiting to see what numbers Welfare comes up with.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

Indiana Jones being 14 despite being really good. Oof.

Piscatella was a misleading asshole for tweeting out that Indiana Jones was only behind Call of Duty in sales during its launch week, as if that was good. What else was Indy going against? Spider-Man 2, over a year old, only on one console, ended up outselling it

 

[Thief1987]

Astro Bot beating Indiana Jones in December isn't something I thought I would be seeing.
Edit: Oh shit, and Spider-Man 2.
Maybe with the good WoM sales will pick up for Dr. Jones in January.

It's currently #152 in Steam sales charts, so there is no any legs either. Maybe it will help to sell a bit more on PS5 though

 

[Synastry]

For December 2023 I have

PS5: 1530K
NSW: 1250K
XBS: 1120K

A pure percentage drop in units would mean this for December 2024 (not adjusting for price differences)

PS5: 1250K
NSW: 775K
XBS: 695K

All consoles should be a little higher due to costing less versus last year, just waiting to see what numbers Welfare comes up with.

If that number for XBS is right that means XBS sold less then 3M units for 2024.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

It means gamepass is doing great.

Got the numbers? Did they manage to move past 35M subs? Or past 30M even?

 

[RetroGamingUK]

For December 2023 I have

PS5: 1530K
NSW: 1250K
XBS: 1120K

A pure percentage drop in units would mean this for December 2024 (not adjusting for price differences)

PS5: 1250K
NSW: 775K
XBS: 695K

All consoles should be a little higher due to costing less versus last year, just waiting to see what numbers Welfare comes up with.

Xbox nearly halving sales in the space of a year, mid-gen, in its “strongest” (and probably the only “strong” territory”) is a disaster.

 

[Topher]

Indiana Jones being 14 despite being really good. Oof.

Should have been on PS5 day one. That would have made a big difference.

Edit: A Adam_802 you laugh, but this is exactly why Indiana Jones is coming to PS5.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Plus MW3 charting in the top 10 of the year shows COD just prints money

Most creative game in the industry

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Few initial thoughts:

• Expected result for PS5 and Xbox Series but that Switch decline is higher than expected. I wonder if it is related to price or unit sales

Not sure I'm following. No price cut, unit sales have been dipping all year. This is why Switch 2 might have problems if the cost per unit is substantially higher and people aren't looking to upgrade. Not sure whether or not Mario Kart is enough to get people to spend 450+ dollars (including the price of Mario Kart), it could easily be 500+ dollars at the end of the day. Tough pill to swallow just for double the number of cars.

• PS5 already being 3rd ever for revenue is crazy

No price cuts (in fact a price increase) after 4 years on the market. That will do it. It'll easily end up 1st for revenue after GTA6, especially if percentages start leaning towards the PS5 Pro.

• Clearly was a good idea for WB to port Hogwarts to Switch

Definitely a good idea, but I have to wonder how anyone enjoyed the game on Switch. I like the game but I thought it felt archaic and I played it on the PS5 Pro. I couldn't imagine playing it on the base PS5 or hell the PS4, so the Switch is even worse... Sub 30 fps and crazy load times. I wonder what impact that might have on future sales. Would they have been better off not porting the game and hoping people bought it on home console instead?

• Nice to see the success of Sonic, Jamboree and Astro Bot, and for Helldivers, Zelda and Ragnarok to be back in the charts

Ragnarok being back on the charts two years later is nasty work. Crazy how Sony games are beginning to be evergreen even before the transmedia strategy takes full root.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Most creative game in the industry

Doing something right.

Maybe you should message your buddy The Professor and give her some pointers on what it takes to make a good game

Oh wait you thought Concord was going to do well from the reveal

Oh well

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Got the numbers? Did they manage to move past 35M subs? Or past 30M even?

Holding onto 30-35 million is good enough, no?

I mean, growing service is a job for COD type game. Not something closer to IM Sim genre. Those sell 2-3 million lifetime.

 

[adamsapple]

Plus MW3 charting in the top 10 of the year shows COD just prints money

Now imagine from next this year when they start shipping on Switch 2 as well.

 

[Tajaz2426]

I’m sensing that there isn’t a lot of goodwill out there with gamers with everything that is going on. The culture wars, subscriptions, microtransactions abound.

I know I haven’t been excited by much as everything feels like it is about money. There used to at least be a mask that they cared for gamers. Now, it is give us your money and if you don’t you’re a bad person, bigot, ist, phobe, or whatever new term we will have in a week.

A game like Indian Jones, should have sold somewhat decent being an actual good game. I know the IP is pretty weak these days, but dang, the movie before it and gamers distrust is starting kill a lot of joy around gaming in general. It is also killing IPs.

It could just be me and I hope it is, but it seems like a lot of wind has been knocked out of us.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

For December 2023 I have

PS5: 1520K
NSW: 1240K
XBS: 1120K

A pure percentage drop in units would mean this for December 2024 (not adjusting for price differences)

PS5: 1250K
NSW: 770K
XBS: 690K

All consoles should be a little higher due to costing less versus last year, just waiting to see what numbers Welfare comes up with.

Have to factor in the introduction of the PS5 Pro as well.

 

[jm89]

If that number for XBS is right that means XBS sold less then 3M units for 2024.

They will be in a vicous cycle

Less demand = Less sales = Less stock sent to retailers = Less sales = Less demand

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Doing something right.

Maybe you should message your buddy The Professor and give her some pointers on what it takes to make a good game

Oh wait you thought Concord was going to do well from the reveal

Oh well

Oh dang, those DEI bullets really sting bro

But I only play creative games so sorry, gonna have to pass on this one

 

[Topher]

Now imagine from next year when they start shipping on Switch 2 as well.

I doubt we see COD topping the Switch 2 charts like it does the others. Could be wrong.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

If that number for XBS is right that means XBS sold less then 3M units for 2024.

Dreamcast in 2000 level of sales

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Oh dang, those DEI bullets really sting bro

But I only play creative games so sorry, gonna have to pass on this one

I know they do, its obvious with how many posts you have made defending Concord all the way up to its overall cost

 

[DForce]

Ok, but your quote is talking about its place in teh Xbox top paid apps, it's the 4th top selling game on the platform for the month.

It's simple.

We know how Indiana Jones performed on Steam. It was obvious it couldn't carry the sales based on that performance.

That's when we go to Xbox. Since the majority of its game sales are DIGITAL, that's when we look at the top paid games on Xbox.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Holding onto 30-35 million is good enough, no?

I mean, growing service is a job for COD type game. Not something closer to IM Sim genre. Those sell 2-3 million lifetime.

Is 30-35M good enough though?
Nadella had set a target of 100M subs by 2027 and if I'm not mistaken, it was reported recently that Nadella was even contemplating shutting down Xbox entirely back in 2021.

COD didn't really grow GP much either, btw.

 

[LordCBH]

Should have been on PS5 day one. That would have made a big difference.

That and advertising. The advertising budget for IJ was approximately $0

 

[Sanepar]

Xbox selling less than an 8 year old handheld that’s been winding down for a good while now.

Embarrassing

In US the only market they have relevance.

 

[adamsapple]

I know they do, its obvious with how many posts you have made defending Concord all the way up to its overall cost

stop he's already dead !

 

[Mibu no ookami]

I’m sensing that there isn’t a lot of goodwill out there with gamers with everything that is going on. The culture wars, subscriptions, microtransactions abound.

I know I haven’t been excited by much as everything feels like it is about money. There used to at least be a mask that they cared for gamers. Now, it is give us your money and if you don’t you’re a bad person, bigot, ist, phobe, or whatever new term we will have in a week.

A game like Indian Jones, should have sold somewhat decent being actual good game. I know the IP is pretty weak these days, but dang, the movie before it and gamers distrust is starting kill a lot of joy around gaming in general.

It could just be me and I hope it is, but it seems like a lot of wind has been knocked out of us.

You're paying attention the wrong things and coming to the wrong conclusions.

None of the stuff you mentioned actually matters.

You bring up Indiana Jones as example and don't realize why Indiana Jones isn't selling well and that's because Xbox isn't selling well and GamePass has eroded premium sales on the platform. Even with GamePass Indiana Jones SHOULD be the #1 Xbox game for the month, but it isn't. Why is that? Because the demographic on Xbox most likely to pay for GamePass isn't multiplayer gamers but single player gamers, that's even with them paying for online. They've destroyed the market for single player premium games on Xbox.

You're so focused on the wrong things you don't know what's actually going on in gaming.

We're witnessing the end of Xbox as we know it and that will send shockwaves through the industry. And no even if Indiana Jones had launched on PlayStation it still wouldn't have sold. It was a mistake to make a 1st person Indiana Jones games after the success of Tomb Raider and Uncharted. You narrow down the interest of the game far too much, which is another problem developers are actually making.

Making GaaS games without single player campaigns for example alienates single player gamers. There is ZERO chance of me playing Marvel Rivals, because I don't play online games at all. You can't sell it to me no matter how good it is. The more you narrow down your demo, the worse your game is going to perform.