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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Source - ERA - The Digital Entertainment And Retail Association UK

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Well, with this sample size it's no wonder that UK market is kinda irrelivant to gauge things.

 

[Mr Hyde]

0.7% for Google Stadia? Okay, which GAF member is it who still plays on it?

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

HW LTD sales via IB:

• PS5 - 4,600,000
• NSW - 7,250.000
• Xbox Series - 3,070,000
• PS4 - 7,723,000

Edit: Fixed the XBS numbers.

 

[nowhat]

HW LTD sales via IB:

• PS5 - 4,600,000
• NSW - 7,250.000
• Xbox Series - 2,570,000
• PS4 - 7,723,000

So almost 2:1 between PS5 and the Series consoles. Out of curiosity, what was the ratio at the end of previous gen (in the UK, that is)?

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

So almost 2:1 between PS5 and the Series consoles. Out of curiosity, what was the ratio at the end of previous gen (in the UK, that is)?

Note that UK is a strongest Xbox market outside of US and was severely impacted with COVID problems with shipments where Xbox Series S was plentiful and PS5 very very scarce.

 

[nowhat]

Note that UK is a strongest Xbox market outside of US and was severely impacted with COVID problems with shipments where Xbox Series S was plentiful and PS5 very very scarce.

Oh I'm very well aware of that. Which is why I was wondering what the split was in the previous gen, has it increased and if so, by how much (even with the supply scarcity and all).

 

[Killjoy-NL]

So, marketshare for Playstation in 2024 in UK was more than Nintendo + Xbox combined.
Xbox has become pretty much irrelevant in it's second strongest market.
Pathetic.

Interesting to see consoles being bigger than PC, with Playstation and Nintendo both doing extremely well. In the UK.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

So almost 2:1 between PS5 and the Series consoles. Out of curiosity, what was the ratio at the end of previous gen (in the UK, that is)?

Here's the UK HW data from Astral_lion02 on IB:

+--------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
|   UK   |    PS4    |    XB1    |    NSW    |    PS5    |    X|S    |
+--------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
|  2013  |   530.000 |   360.000 |     -     |     -     |     -     |
|  2014  | 1.250.000 | 1.100.000 |     -     |     -     |     -     |
|  2015  | 1.200.000 | 1.000.000 |     -     |     -     |     -     |
|  2016  | 1.110.000 |   820.000 |     -     |     -     |     -     |
|  2017  | 1.050.000 |   730.000 |   640.000 |     -     |     -     |
|  2018  | 1.160.000 |   680.000 |   770.000 |     -     |     -     |
|  2019  |   700.000 |   500.000 |   980.000 |     -     |     -     |
|  2020  |   440.000 |   290.000 | 1.500.000 |   460.000 |   310.000 |
|  2021  |   130.000 |    20.000 | 1.210.000 | 1.160.000 |   850.000 |
|  2022  |     3.000 |     -     |   880.000 |   780.000 |   757.000 |
|  2023  |    24.000 |     -     |   720.000 | 1.210.000 |   650.000 |
|  2024  |     8.000 |     -     |   500.000 | 1.000.000 |   462.000 |
+--------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+
|  LTD   | 7.610.000 | 5.500.000 | 7.200.000 | 4.610.000 | 3.030.000 |

 

[Mibu no ookami]

So, marketshare for Playstation in 2024 in UK was more than Nintendo + Xbox combined.
Xbox has become pretty much irrelevant in it's second strongest market.
Pathetic.

Interesting to see consoles being bigger than PC, with Playstation and Nintendo both doing extremely well. In the UK.

Not that Asia doesn't count, but so much of PC's TAM is Asia. The addressable market per game for every game isn't really there for all titles.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Not that Asia doesn't count, but so much of PC's TAM is Asia. The addressable market per game for every game isn't really there for all titles.

Oh yh, I didn't mean to imply that it represents the overall gaming market.

Just thought it was interesting, as I expected PC market being bigger in every region/country, due to the nature of PC.

 

[Mattyp]

RDR2 & Helldivers both being 90% digital seems pretty nuts.

The more casual the game the more physical copies it sells seems about right but.

 

[kazuyamishima]

The Covid really boosted sales for Nintendo Switch everywhere

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Oh yh, I didn't mean to imply that it represents the overall gaming market.

Just thought it was interesting, as I expected PC market being bigger in every region/country, due to the nature of PC.

I fully expect a mini-PC crash, no pun intended. With GPU pricing and the shift towards AI for card manufacturers, I don't know how PC will keep up with the value proposition of consoles.

If tariffs impact PC parts pricing, it's going to be more than a mini crash.

 

[Mownoc]

PS+ bigger than gamepass without gutting their software sales with day one releases.

 

[Insanemaelstrom]

PS+ bigger than gamepass without gutting their software sales with day one releases.

Subs are only popular on consoles( mainly due to online restrictions). There is a reason why gamepass pc is a far better deal than gamepass standard

 

[Luminoth-4545]

GFK's tracked numbers are slightly different, they have XBS a little over 3 million and total hardware for the year was just below 2 million which is the worst total in the modern era. Also Switch is 440K behind PS4 and Probably will just fall short of catching it.

UK Hardware (GFK)

Console	This Year	Last Year	LTD
Playstation 5	0.96M	1.21M	4.56M
Nintendo Switch	0.52M	0.72M	7.29M
Xbox Series	0.46M	0.65M	3.03M
Playstation 4	0.01M	0.02M	7.73M
Total	1.95M	2.60M	-

UK Lifetime Console Sales

Nintendo DS: 12.4M
Playstation 2: 10.0M
Xbox 360: 9.3M
Nintendo Wii: 8.4M
Playstation 4: 7.73M
Nintendo Switch: 7.29M
Playstation 1: 7.2M
Game Boy: 6.6M
Playstation 3: 6.0M
Xbox One: 5.86M
Game Boy Advance: 4.8M
Playstation 5: 4.56M
Playstation Portable: 3.9M
Nintendo 3DS: 3.9M
Megadrive: 3.5M
Xbox Series: 3.03M
Xbox: 2.2M
Super Nintendo: 2.0M
Nintendo 64: 1.6M
Nintendo ES: 1.5M
Master System: 1.5M
Gamecube: 1.2M
Playstation Vita: 740K
Game Gear: >600K
Dreamcast: 600K
Nintendo Wii U: 590K
Sega Saturn: 400K

 

[NastyPasty]

Well, with this sample size it's no wonder that UK market is kinda irrelivant to gauge things.

I don't think you understand what a sample is. A career in polling probably isn't for you.

In console sales for example, it accounts for more than 5% of PS5 sales, and more than 10% of XBox and around 3% of switch. Yougov would kill for those kid of sample sizes. Moreover, the market supplies timely, detailed data, and sits between North America and Europe in terms of consumer habits, making it a useful bellwether for Western gaming trends.

 

[jm89]

Ps portal at 143k is pretty decent, the perctange of the userbase who have bought one in the UK is above 3%, so similar to what circana said for north america.

If we extrapolate for rest of the world it is easily 2 million+ sold world wide, so easily tracking above other handhelds like steamdeck assuming those estimates for analysts are somewhat accurate.

Not so bad for a DOA device...

 

[Shubh_C63]

what the hell is Undisputed ?

 

[jm89]

what the hell is Undisputed ?

First realistic boxing game from small studio in the uk since fight night.

 

[Heisenberg007]

UK used to be the 2nd biggest market for Xbox. Shocking to see the 7% market share now. Horrible performance.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

UK used to be the 2nd biggest market for Xbox. Shocking to see the 7% market share now. Horrible performance.

It still is the 2nd biggest market, despite how bad it looks.

Oof

 

[Senua]

I fully expect a mini-PC crash, no pun intended. With GPU pricing and the shift towards AI for card manufacturers, I don't know how PC will keep up with the value proposition of consoles.

If tariffs impact PC parts pricing, it's going to be more than a mini crash.

As yes, PC gaming. Predicted by gaf users to crash and burn since 1999

 

[Astray]

Ps portal at 143k is pretty decent, the perctange of the userbase who have bought one in the UK is above 3%, so similar to what circana said for north america.

If we extrapolate for rest of the world it is easily 2 million+ sold world wide, so easily tracking above other handhelds like steamdeck assuming those estimates for analysts are somewhat accurate.

Not so bad for a DOA device...

That's impossible I was assured by everyone that no one needed it!

 

[Killjoy-NL]

It still is the 2nd biggest market, despite how bad it looks.

Oof

That's the pathetic part.

No idea how anyone can claim that Xbox hasn't become practically irrelevant.

 

[GHG]

It still is the 2nd biggest market, despite how bad it looks.

Oof

Remember when Microsoft threatened and attacked the UK?

It's all worked out so well for them since then.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

It still is the 2nd biggest market, despite how bad it looks.

Oof

A reminder that the UK is the 2nd strongest market for Xbox...

 

[Unknown?]

A reminder that the UK is the 2nd strongest market for Xbox...

Wait till next E3!

 

[ValiantInstance]

EA FC 25 is the poorest performing Fifa game in decades, so for it to be top tells you how dry the AAA market is at the moment.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

EA FC 25 is the poorest performing Fifa game in decades, so for it to be top tells you how dry the AAA market is at the moment.

Those games have been best sellers since the MegaDrive games

Put out a half decent footie title with proper teams and the UK market will lap it up.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

If you treat handheld (basically Switch) as a home console, then console gaming still dwarfs PC in the UK

 

[Unknown?]

If you treat handheld (basically Switch) as a home console, then console gaming still dwarfs PC in the UK

PC can be hooked up to a TV, that makes PC a console(according to Nintendo fans).

 

[Horseganador]

PS5 dominating in the UK comfortably while Xbox is disappearing, as usual.

 

[Generic]

PS+ bigger than gamepass without gutting their software sales with day one releases.

This is terrible for consumers though.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

This is terrible for consumers though.

And why is that?

 

[Generic]

And why is that?

Paying less for games is objectively good.

 

[Mr Moose]

Paying less for renting games is objectively good.

Fixed.

 

[leo-j]

143k in just the UK for ps portal is pretty impressive ngl. System should be around 3M world wide at this point.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Paying less for games is objectively good.

Short term, sure.

 

[Zacfoldor]

It's so clear that MS started semi-strong this gen and fell off a cliff.

Are they hoping for a reset on the next hardware? Something will have to change because if they launch with this position in the market it could be a disaster.

What are the odds of UK, Canada, and the EU buying high end American branded console in 2026? Does anyone really think their next hardware has a chance of outperforming the series? I can't imagine it doing anything but failing at this point. A lot will need to change in worldwide perception of MS before this will catch on in a world where Nintendo, Sony, and Valve are going strong as they are today.

Usually there is a lull at the end of a gen where we basically have to wait a year and a half to get the new hardware and all the cool new games. That builds excitement and desire. Xbox if they launch in 2025(handheld) 2026(console) respectively, run the risk of coming out during the prime time of the other two devices.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

Paying less for games is objectively good.

So is a participant that actually participates.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

It's so clear that MS started semi-strong this gen and fell off a cliff.

What are the odds of UK, Canada, and the EU buying high end American branded console in 2026? Does anyone really think their next hardware has a chance of outperforming the series? I can't imagine it doing anything but failing at this point. A lot will need to change in worldwide perception of MS before this will catch on in a world where Nintendo, Sony, and Valve are going strong as they are today.

With the mass market now aware and expecting every Xbox game to come to PlayStation, outside hardcore fans people who MUST have Gamepass it’s a certain no.

I’d say there’s only an audience of about 10 million who would buy such a device.

If Microsoft changed their third party strategy and went back to exclusives they’ve already confused the market and damaged their brand too much to recover.

Once Halo, Gears, Fable and Forza are one PlayStation they will have reached a point of no return for the brand.

 

[Saber]

"Smarphone is the most popular device for games"

What games? Candy Crush and low effort free apps are considered games?

 

[LordCBH]

Hogwarts Legacy just does not stop. I’m sure the other place is taking the news well.

 

[Ebrietas]

Paying less for games is objectively good.

Renting games is objectively better than owning them?

 

[LordOcidax]

Sales in UK were really bad in general…

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Renting games is objectively better than owning them?

All depends on how much game time one has on their hands

If you play 2 or 3 games a year then owning is the better option

 

[GHG]

This is terrible for consumers though.

And the consumers are deciding what's good for them.

Cheap != Better

 

[Orbital2060]

Retail hardware down 34,5 % yoy

Physical down 25 % yoy