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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Command & Conquer games flooded the European charts in March after EA put out a bundle of games on Steam.

Five titles in the iconic strategy series make the Top Ten, led by Command & Conquer Generals at No.4. The result of this means that new releases such as WWE 2K24 (No.12), Rise Of The Ronin (No.18) and Princess Peach Showtime (No.23), all chart lower than expected. There are 11 Command & Conquer titles in the Top 20.

In total, 15.9 million console and PC games were sold across European markets, according to GSD (which tracks digital and physical console and PC game sales). That's a rise of 35% over the same four-week period last year. For the full quarter, game sales are up more than 9% across Europe, which is better than many analysts had predicted. This is despite the absence of Palworld data from the charts (Palworld was a particularly big hit in January).

For March, Helldivers 2's stay at the top of the European charts is over as the game drops to No.2, but it's still delivering impressive numbers. EA Sports FC24 reclaimed its position at No.1.

There was one new game that managed to overcome the deluge of Command & Conquer titles and that was Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2, which was a strong hit across Europe. It's one of two big Japanese RPGs to launch this year so far, following Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth at the end of February. Comparing the first two weeks on sale for both games, Final Fantasy just about beat Dragon's Dogma. Note: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth was only released on PS5, whereas Dragon's Dogma 2 is on PS5, PC and Xbox.

In terms of hardware, for the same four-week period console sales are down 27% to 317,090 units across tracked markets (UK and Germany data is missing.

PS5 saw the biggest drop of nearly 31% year-on-year for March, but remains comfortably the best-selling console across Europe. This is partially due to the fact that PS5 became freely available this time last year, so there was a surge in console sales in early 2023.

In terms of accessories, 1.2 million of these products were sold across tracked European markets, a drop of 0.3% over the year before. The DualSense controller for PS5 leads the way comfortably, with the Xbox Series Wireless controller in second place.

European GSD March 2024 Top 10 (Digital + Physical)​

Position	Title
1	EA Sports FC 24 (EA)
2	Helldivers 2 (Sony)
3	Dragon's Dogma 2 (Capcom)
4	Command & Conquer: Generals (EA)
5	Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft)
6	Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar)
7	Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 (EA)
8	Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun (EA)
9	Command & Conquer: Renegade (EA)
10	Command & Conquer: Red Alert (EA)

Command & Conquer invades European March charts as sales improve | European Monthly Charts

Command & Conquer games flooded the European charts in March after EA put out a bundle of games on Steam.Five titles in…

www.gamesindustry.biz

 

[Tomi]

Helldivers is massive
Congrats to Sony

 

[Bergoglio]

PS5 saw the biggest drop of nearly 31% year-on-year for March.

 

[Woopah]

Really strong for Helldivers 2 again.

This is the type of drop I was expecting for PS5 in March (vs. the 9% fall we saw in the UK), so I guess the end of shortages in 2023 had a greater impact in continental Europe.

 

[Tsaki]

European GSD goes for the least amount of information provided I see

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

PS5 saw the biggest drop of nearly 31% year-on-year for March.

March was the month europe (outside the UK) started to actually get PS5 units so this was to be expected. The good part is what says right after "but remains comfortably the best-selling console across Europe"

 

[MisterXDTV]

March was the month europe (outside the UK) started to actually get PS5 units so this was to be expected. The good part is what says right after "but remains comfortably the best-selling console across Europe"

Yes, PS5 was up 400% (5x) in March 2023, compared to March 2022

I would say -31% this year is a pretty good result

 

[BennyBlanco]

There are 11 Command & Conquer titles in the Top 20.

 

[yazenov]

Now I now why revenue based software charts makes sense in this types of cases.

 

[jm89]

No YOY for the others?

Come on now.

 

[yazenov]

"Comparing the first two weeks on sale for both games, Final Fantasy just about beat Dragon’s Dogma.

Note: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth was only released on PS5, whereas Dragon’s Dogma 2 is on PS5, PC and Xbox."

Hell yeah for Ff7 rebirth, on one platform.

 

[jm89]

"Comparing the first two weeks on sale for both games, Final Fantasy just about beat Dragon’s Dogma.

Note: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth was only released on PS5, whereas Dragon’s Dogma 2 is on PS5, PC and Xbox."

Hell yeah for Ff7 rebirth, on one platform.

Europe is supposed to be a PC centric region aswell where i thought dd2 would do bigger numbers.

Dragons dogma 2 was hyped through the moon and is looking like an ok game in retrospect.

 

[LordCBH]

I fuckin love seeing all the Command and Conquer!

 

[jroc74]

March was the month europe (outside the UK) started to actually get PS5 units so this was to be expected. The good part is what says right after "but remains comfortably the best-selling console across Europe"

Exactly.

Biggest drop and yet still the best selling console.

Thats wild. Would be even wilder if Xbox saw an increase. Switch is in literal end of generation mode so thats whatever.

"Comparing the first two weeks on sale for both games, Final Fantasy just about beat Dragon’s Dogma.

Note: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth was only released on PS5, whereas Dragon’s Dogma 2 is on PS5, PC and Xbox."

Hell yeah for Ff7 rebirth, on one platform.

 

[yazenov]

Exactly.

Biggest drop and yet still the best selling console.

Thats wild. Would be even wilder if Xbox saw an increase. Switch is in literal end of generation mode so thats whatever.

Europe is supposed to be a PC centric region aswell where i thought dd2 would do bigger numbers.

Dragons dogma 2 was hyped through the moon and is looking like an ok game in retrospect.

The better game won.

 

[Horseganador]

And the sales of Switch and Xbox as they have been, only talk about PS5.

 

[Woopah]

And the sales of Switch and Xbox as they have been, only talk about PS5.

I wish we got actual hardware figures like do from Japan.

 

[MisterXDTV]

And the sales of Switch and Xbox as they have been, only talk about PS5.

I guess a full Q1 report is coming from Chris Dring, it happened last year

 

[adamsapple]

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

People are going to freak out if HD2 wins some kind of GOTY

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Europe is supposed to be a PC centric region aswell where i thought dd2 would do bigger numbers.

Dragons dogma 2 was hyped through the moon and is looking like an ok game in retrospect.

That's just the typical bubble people are living in.

At least as far as Gaf goes, they are in no way representative of the average gamer.

 

[Three]

Really strong for Helldivers 2 again.

This is the type of drop I was expecting for PS5 in March (vs. the 9% fall we saw in the UK), so I guess the end of shortages in 2023 had a greater impact in continental Europe.

Sony were sending most stock to the US and UK because that's where they had the most competition. The way to tell is to look at the jumps in sales last year. In the UK for this quarter sales of PS5 were up 180%. In Europe they were up 369%.

 

[Ozriel]

People are going to freak out if HD2 wins some kind of GOTY

It’s a lock for best multiplayer game. Why would anyone freak out about that?

 

[Fess]

People are going to freak out if HD2 wins some kind of GOTY

I’ve seen plenty of people say it’s their GOTY. Should definitely be nominated at TGA or it’ll end like with Hogwarts where the show just seem like a joke and out of touch with the gaming community.

 

[Woopah]

Sony were sending most stock to the US and UK because that's where they had the most competition. The way to tell is to look at the jumps in sales last year. In the UK for this quarter sales of PS5 were up 180%. In Europe they were up 369%.

That does make sense!

 

[yurinka]

Nice to see a 9% growth and Helldivers 2 up there.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

People are going to freak out if HD2 wins some kind of GOTY

It's so interesting how quiet Sony has been about HD2. I really wonder what the publisher-developer split on the revenue is here. It's interesting since Sony owns the Helldivers IP, so it might not be your traditional split. Nevertheless, it seems like would be a windfall for Sony, but for their quarterly finances might be wiped out by aggressive pricing on Spider-Man PS5 bundles.

I think there is too much competition for HD2 to win GOTY, but it'll be more interesting to see if it actually gets nominated.

Right now a quarter into the year, I'd say we're looking at Dragon's Dogma 2, FF7 Rebirth, and maybe Metroid Prime 4 if it releases this year.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

It's so interesting how quiet Sony has been about HD2. I really wonder what the publisher-developer split on the revenue is here. It's interesting since Sony owns the Helldivers IP, so it might not be your traditional split. Nevertheless, it seems like would be a windfall for Sony, but for their quarterly finances might be wiped out by aggressive pricing on Spider-Man PS5 bundles.

I think there is too much competition for HD2 to win GOTY, but it'll be more interesting to see if it actually gets nominated.

Right now a quarter into the year, I'd say we're looking at Dragon's Dogma 2, FF7 Rebirth, and maybe Metroid Prime 4 if it releases this year.

remember dorito's pope is in Sony's bag so I think he will make a new category just for HD2 to win. But I think HD2's meta narrative is kind of worth being praised.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

remember dorito's pope is in Sony's bag so I think he will make a new category just for HD2 to win. But I think HD2's meta narrative is kind of worth being praised.

It will likely be nominated for several categories.

MAYBE best game
Best Community Support
Best Ongoing
Best Action Game
Best Multiplayer

 

[XXL]

All 11 were on sale in a bundle on Steam for like $13 or something.

I bought them myself.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

It’s a lock for best multiplayer game. Why would anyone freak out about that?

Why? Several reasons. But one is that it was hailed as the AAA killer or the game that showed those AAA gaming bastards how it's done

so it will feel like "democracy is winning" and some people will make it a big deal.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

It’s a lock for best multiplayer game. Why would anyone freak out about that?

Not if Concord makes it this year.

 

[Crayon]

17 games in the collection? This is just screaming "buy me and never play me". I don't think I can resist...

 

[Hudo]

Seeing Command & Conquer on a sales chart is just beautiful.

 

[skit_data]

l need to buy the C&C games, completely forget about them releasing last month

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Not if Concord makes it this year.

no one knows what it is. is it going to chase trends or is it going to be something unique?

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

no one knows what it is. is it going to chase trends or is it going to be something unique?

It will be the later.

 

[StereoVsn]

17 games in the collection? This is just screaming "buy me and never play me". I don't think I can resist...

It’s all about how it will look in your Steam Library. Who has time to play games?

 

[mckmas8808]

It will likely be nominated for several categories.

MAYBE best game
Best Community Support
Best Ongoing
Best Action Game
Best Multiplayer

It should probably win at least 2 of those.