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[Luminoth-4545]

Credit: Welfare

Circana January 2024: #1 MWIII #2 Tekken 8 #3 Suicide Squad #4 Persona 3; PS5 #1 Units + Rev, Switch #2 Units Xbox #2 Rev

State of the market Projected total market spending on video game hardware, content and accessories grew 15% in January compared to a year ago, reaching $5.1B. Note: January 2024 was a 5-week period, while January 2023 was a 4-week period. A 15% increase in total projected spending on video game...

www.installbaseforum.com

Platform specific software charts make a return!

State of the market

Projected total market spending on video game hardware, content and accessories grew 15% in January compared to a year ago, reaching $5.1B. Note: January 2024 was a 5-week period, while January 2023 was a 4-week period. A 15% increase in total projected spending on video game content drove the market’s overall gain. Growth in digital content spending across Console, PC and VR platforms, along with a 5% increase in mobile games spending (mobile source: Sensor Tower) led the way.

Hardware

January video game hardware spending fell 4% when compared to January 2023, to $378 million. Growth in Xbox Series hardware dollar sales was unable to offset declines across other platforms.

PlayStation 5 was the best-selling hardware platform of January 2024 in both units and dollars, with Switch placing 2nd in unit sales and Xbox Series ranking at #2 in dollar sales.

With 39 months in market, life-to-date unit sales of PlayStation 5 are now tracking 7% ahead of PlayStation 4’s pace, and 68% above that of PlayStation 3.

Software

Palworld was January’s biggest new release story, ranking 1st in monthly active users on Steam in the US during January according to Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, while placing 3rd on Xbox platforms behind only Fortnite and Call of Duty HQ.

Fortnite once again led in monthly active users across both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, with Call of Duty HQ ranking 2nd across both platforms.

Enshrouded was the only new release outside of Palworld to rank among the top 10 titles in US monthly active users on tracked platforms, placing 7th on Steam during the month.

Being added to January’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup helped Evil West jump to 7th on the PS5 monthly active user chart after placing 378th in December. On Xbox Series, Hell Let Loose rose from #168 in December to 8th in January driven by its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass.

6 new releases appeared on January’s top 20 best-selling tracked titles chart. Leading all new releases was Bandai Namco Entertainment’s Tekken 8, which ranked 2nd during January, with both unit and dollar sales growth compared to the June 2017 release of Tekken 7.

Mobile

Sensor Tower reports the top 10 mobile games by U.S. consumer spend in Jan as: MONOPOLY GO!, Royal Match (+1), Roblox (-1), Candy Crush Saga, Coin Master (+1), Township (+5), Whiteout Survival (+5), Jackpot Party – Casino Slots (+2), Clash of Clans (-4) and Pokémon GO (-2). The highlights of this month are Township and Whiteout Survival, both of which jumped up five ranks to take middle spots in the top ten list," said Samuel Aune of Sensor Tower. "Township's revenue spiked on Jan 19th, coinciding with the... Brazilian Carnival in-app event."

"The higher-level trend here is that Playrix and other publishers are continuing to find success monetizing their existing audiences through live ops in a time when targeted user acquisition costs are high," - Samuel Aune, Sensor Tower

Accessories

Spending on video game accessories increased 45% when compared to January 2023, to $246 million. Gamepad spending increased by over 50% year-on-year. The PlayStation 5 Dual Sense Edge was the best-selling video game accessory of January in dollar sales.

PlayStation Portal was shifted from the Hardware category to Accessories with January data. PlayStation Portal ranked 5th among video game accessories in consumer spending during January.

Software Charts

Playstation

Xbox

Switch

Monthly Active User Engagement

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

Thanks Mat Piscatella!

Other info



Xbox being up yoy for units and PS5 being up 7% over PS4 launch aligned roughly gives us this

PS5: < 450K > 400K
NSW: < 300K > XBS
XBS: > 200K

Welfare's Estimates
PS5: 420K
NSW: 250K
XBS: 210K

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

With 39 months in market, life-to-date unit sales of PlayStation 5 are now tracking 7% ahead of PlayStation 4’s pace, and 68% above that of PlayStation 3.

Nice!

Edit: GT7 showing up there as well. Nice to see that.

 

[mansoor1980]

PlayStation 5 are now tracking 7% ahead of PlayStation 4’s pace, and 68% above that of PlayStation 3.

totoki is still not impressed..................

 

[HeWhoWalks]

Nice!

Edit: GT7 showing up there as well. Nice to see that.

Yep, PlayStation is killin' it and PS5 is now ahead of PS4's pace. Can't spin the figures!

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Misread they sold more revenue than units.

 

[lh032]

i wonder whats the new ps5 sales target once Playstation crossed the 21 mil sales target.

 

[Topher]

Imagine selling more units than the Switch but getting less revenue...

That's so clearly XSS over XSX but also massive discounting for both.

Switch sold more units. Xbox had more revenue.

" with Switch placing 2nd in unit sales and Xbox Series ranking at #2 in dollar sales."

Misread they sold more revenue than units.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

Switch sold more units. Xbox had more revenue.

" with Switch placing 2nd in unit sales and Xbox Series ranking at #2 in dollar sales."

Ah, yeah. I read it the other way too

CoD puttin' in work!

 

[Luminoth-4545]

My estimations for 2023, what do people expect from 2024? I think all consoles will be down so some thing like 5.7m PS5, 3.5m XBS and 3.3m NSW. The NSW will be down the most with the successor sure to be announced at some point this year.

Full Estimations for 2023

Month	PS5	XBS	NSW
Jan-23	430,000	200,000	280,000
Feb-23	560,000	240,000	290,000
Mar-23	660,000	280,000	340,000
Apr-23	360,000	180,000	420,000
May-23	270,000	160,000	450,000
Jun-23	430,000	240,000	350,000
Jul-23	270,000	160,000	240,000
Aug-23	400,000	210,000	200,000
Sep-23	490,000	300,000	200,000
Oct -23	370,000	200,000	210,000
Nov - 23	1,050,000	580,000	570,000
Dec - 23	1,530,000	1,130,000	1,250,000
2023	6,830,000	3,880,000	4,800,000
LTD	18,730,000	13,580,000	44,210,000

 

[SlimySnake]

With 39 months in market, life-to-date unit sales of PlayStation 5 are now tracking 7% ahead of PlayStation 4’s pace, and 68% above that of PlayStation 3.

In the consoles are dying thread, people were saying PS5 was selling worse than PS4.

7% after a $100 price increase over PS4, the pandemic, inflation and chip shortages is not bad.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

We also know that the PS5 is tracking ahead of the PS4 in Japan.

 

[Luminoth-4545]

In the consoles are dying thread, people were saying PS5 was selling worse than PS4.

7% after a $100 price increase over PS4, the pandemic, inflation and chip shortages is not bad.

In the United States the PS5 is up over PS4 but Globally it was 2.5 million behind in the Q3 financial report.

 

[Daneel Elijah]

what do people expect from 2024?

Not a prediction but I hope that the PS5 Pro will be available and sell well. And a price cut for the PS5, I have friends that are still on PS4 waiting for it.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

We also know that the PS5 is tracking ahead of the PS4 in Japan.

Imagine when they get their act together more over there. I was encouraged by their January State of Play. Hopefully more of that to come because their western output has been consistent.

 

[Flabagast]

Did not expect Suicide Squads to sell so well

 

[LordCBH]

Shitty Suicide Squad ahead of actual good games on that list. Jesus wept.

 

[ChiefDada]

"dURRRRRR...sOnY sHoUlD mOvE oN FRom tLoU fRaNcHiSe!!!!"

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

In the United States the PS5 is up but Globally it was 2.5 million behind in the Q3 financial report.

I wonder in which countries the PS5 is underperforming launch aligned vs the PS4. Must be in Europe, right, as both US and Japan are up?

 

[SlimySnake]

In the United States the PS5 is up but Globally it was 2.5 million behind in the Q3 financial report.

Well, thats what they get for increasing the price to $550 outside of the U.S. Fuck em.

Hope they learned their lesson.

 

[Kaiserstark]

In the consoles are dying thread, people were saying PS5 was selling worse than PS4.

7% after a $100 price increase over PS4, the pandemic, inflation and chip shortages is not bad.

In the United States the PS5 is up but Globally it was 2.5 million behind in the Q3 financial report.

It's not really a surprise when we take into account the fact that it will be two years since there has been no shortage for the PS5 in the US while for Europe, it has only been resolved since last year.

It can be assumed that the PS5 could catch up to the PS4 this year in Europe especially if they manage to do some good promotions.

 

[Luminoth-4545]

I wonder in which countries the PS5 is underperforming launch aligned vs the PS4. Must be in Europe, right, as both US and Japan are up?

"Europe" and "Other" regions must be down by quite a bit, Europe sold great in 2023 but sales were poor from 2020 to 2022 due to shortages.

 

[MisterXDTV]

From IB:

Estimates

PS5: ~420K
NSW: ~250K
XBS: >210K

 

[Deerock71]

In the consoles are dying thread, people were saying PS5 was selling worse than PS4.

7% after a $100 price increase over PS4, the pandemic, inflation and chip shortages is not bad.

Globally. I believe this is just in the US.

 

[yazenov]

Persona 3 reloaded is 4th in the overall charts but no where to be found in the Xbox individual charts.

However, it's 4th in the Playstation charts. Yeah, I wonder which version carried the majority of the sales.

 

[Sanepar]

That's why they need tp go multplatform. The only market they are relevant and they are 3rd with half sales of ps5.

 

[MisterXDTV]

 

[EverydayBeast]

Microsoft cares about a hardware future if they didn’t they would have been out by now.

 

[skit_data]

Picked up GT7 again a while back after falling off around launch. After the weekly challenges update and other additions it really is my favourite GT game by far and possibly one of my favourite games ever. Real quality work from Polyphony.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

As i said...PS5's first 2 online games recently are on fire. Both this one and Helldivers 2 doing numbers.

I don't think people that don't follow US charts realize how rare a 2 year old racing simulator charting really is.
Specially an exclusive like this.

The fact that's turning out to be the most successful of the franchise is amazing.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Picked up GT7 again a while back after falling off around launch. After the weekly challenges update and other additions it really is my favourite GT game by far and possibly one of my favourite games ever. Real quality work from Polyphony.

Agreed. Spec II saw a massive increase (doubled in players).

Gran Turismo 7 Gets Massive Player Spike After Spec II Update

GT7’s active playerbase has doubled since Spec II according to Kazunori Yamauchi.

racinggames.gg

 

[jm89]

Well, thats what they get for increasing the price to $550 outside of the U.S. Fuck em.

Hope they learned their lesson.

They will be forced to drop the price in europe soon.

They are doing these small week long discounts regularly, no way consumers are gonna want to pay full price with discounts happing so often.

 

[Kacho]

From IB:

Estimates

PS5: ~420K
NSW: ~250K
XBS: >210K

Did Welfare provide the estimates for January 2023? XBS hardware was dealing with shortages around that time, so the "growth" we're seeing doesn't seem promising.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

From IB:

Estimates

PS5: ~420K
NSW: ~250K
XBS: >210K

The fact MS's growth allowed them to lose by "just" 2:1...shows how some metrics are misleading.

PS5 is basically going to be the #1 console for this year WW and probably next year if Switch 2 only releases in March. (kinda like PS4 was still #1 for 2017)

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth everyone sohuld play it at some point. Excellent and very fun game.

Persona 3 also awesome, I'll pick this up in a few months.

 

[Horseganador]

It seems that PS5 continues to sell 2:1 compared to Xbox in the USA, we will see in February with Helldivers 2 + FF7Rebirth + change in Xbox strategy by releasing first on PS5-Switch what happens....

Those GT7 sales are well deserved, you can see the care and attention that PD has put into the game.

 

[Roufianos]

Did not expect Suicide Squads to sell so well

I mean, outselling a Persona remake is hardly 'so well'.

If it reviewed well, 100% it would have been number one. Big name games with shit reception often sell decent at launch but quickly drop off.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Nice to see that GT is still a huge franchise with lot of love outside of racing community.

Xbox is getting slaughtered with 2:1 ratio again too, just imagine how bad things are in Europe. Puts this whole circus with 4 XGS releases into perspective really well too.

 

[Bernardougf]

Well, thats what they get for increasing the price to $550 outside of the U.S. Fuck em.

Hope they learned their lesson.

Im almost sure IF the pro exist It will be 649 at minimum... and we better prepare for a next gen 599 machine.. the days of 499 are over Im afraid

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Nice to see that GT is still a huge franchise with lot of love outside of racing community.

Xbox is getting slaughtered with 2:1 ratio again too, just imagine hiw bad things are in Europe. Puts this whole circus with 4 XGS releases into perspective really well too.

Gran Turismo is doing really well because of the Gran Turismo movie. The transmedia strategy is really paying off.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Maybe I should check out GT7 finally.

Also it seems that Xbox tweet was correct, the biggest games will be on more than one platform

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Gran Turismo is doing really well because of the Gran Turismo movie. The transmedia strategy is really paying off.

Spec II helped a lot too. The support for GT7 is pretty robust.

 

[Luminoth-4545]

GT3 - A-Spec, now there is a blast from the past. I remember back in 2001 those visuals were jaw dropping, powered by the PS2's so called "emotion" engine the leap over the previous gen for racing games was so huge.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Gran Turismo is doing really well because of the Gran Turismo movie. The transmedia strategy is really paying off.

Movie came out in August.

If there was a movie boost we wouldn't be seeing it in January.

The game has been having quite a great set of updates and i'd bet for its 2nd birthday the same thing is happening as well.

WOM is also quite great. Also the fact Forza failed with its latest release was a huge promo for Gran Turismo as well. Lots of comparisons left and right.

Sure the movie may be helping a bit (maybe it was made available in a streaming service in the US? but it's more than just that.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Movie came out in August.

If there was a movie boost we wouldn't be seeing it in January.

The game has been having quite a great set of updates and i'd bet for its 2nd birthday the same thing is happening as well.

WOM is also quite great. Also the fact Forza failed with its latest release was a huge promo for Gran Turismo as well. Lots of comparisons left and right.

Sure the movie may be helping a bit (maybe it was made available in a streaming service in the US? but it's more than just that.

It came to Netflix in December... It's definitely that.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

GT3 - A-Spec, now there is a blast from the past. I remember back in 2000 those visuals were jaw dropping, powered by the PS2's so called "emotion" engine the leap over the previous gen for racing games was so huge.

Staggering!

GT3 was heavily bundled too if I recall.

Edit: At 70 dollars it is still probably quite a bit behind in unit sales.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

It came to Netflix in December... It's definitely that.

Oh that explains it.

Sony's strategy is clearly working though.

 

[VargasPaPuM]

 It is interesting how circana numbers are only good when it is convenient .

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Oh that explains it.

Sony's strategy is clearly working though.

It's working big time and I'd call this PlayStation Productions Phase 1.

Uncharted
TLOU Season 1
Gran Turismo
Twisted Metal Season 1

Phase 2-3 is where things get a bit interesting

TLOU Season 2
Jak and Daxter
Gravity Rush
Until Dawn
Ghost of Tsushima
Twisted Metal Season 2
God of War
Horizon
Day's Gone
Uncharted 2

 

[DeepEnigma]

 It is interesting how circana numbers are only good when it is accurate with no mental gymnastics for eNgAgEmEnT .

FTFY

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

It's working big time and I'd call this PlayStation Productions Phase 1.

Uncharted
TLOU Season 1
Gran Turismo
Twisted Metal Season 1

Phase 2-3 is where things get a bit interesting

TLOU Season 2
Jak and Daxter
Gravity Rush
Until Dawn
Ghost of Tsushima
Twisted Metal Season 2
God of War
Horizon
Day's Gone
Uncharted 2

The second half of PS5 gen is going to be something when we consider every single studio is working on one or multiple games for it and none have been announced at this point. Add to that all the movies and tv shows yeah...it will be interesting.