PlayStation, Xbox, and Mario were the most successful brands in the EMEAA region at the beginning of 2021

Contents:

• Consoles and Hardware
• Accessories and Peripherals
• Store Wallets and Cards
• Video Games

GSD analysts have released new sales data for the EMEAA region. According to the report, 2.7 million game consoles, 8.2 million accessories, and 82 million video games were sold in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and parts of Asia in the first six months of 2020. This data covers both retail and digital sales from major gaming publishers. This report summarizes key metrics that demonstrate current trends in the video games and gaming devices market.

Consoles and Hardware

In the EMEAA region, 2.7 million game consoles were sold in the first six months of 2021, a 4% increase compared to the same period in 2020. This growth indicates continued consumer interest in game consoles and can be attributed to the increase in the number of games and improved graphics quality. Market trends point to stable demand, which may positively impact future sales in this region.

The growth in gaming analytics sales is driven by the launch of next-generation consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Amid a global shortage of semiconductors and other components, new gaming systems rapidly disappeared from store shelves in the first six months of 2021. This shortage has fueled increased interest in games and gaming accessories, which in turn has fueled demand for analytics within the video game industry.

New gaming consoles from Sony and Microsoft have secured significant market share, with both platforms now accounting for 53% of total consoles sold, up from 40% in the first half of 2020. This reflects the growing popularity of modern gaming technology and the high interest of users in the new features offered by the latest console models.

The Nintendo Switch has been on the market for five years, and its sales have declined by more than 26% compared to the first half of 2020. Despite this, the console still retains its status as the best-selling console in European markets in the first half of the year. The release of the OLED version of the device in the fall is expected to stimulate sales growth in the second half of this year. This new version, with its improved screen and other features, could attract both new users and existing owners of the original model.

Comparing Nintendo Switch sales is currently difficult due to the pandemic's impact on the global market. Lockdowns in Europe in the second quarter of 2020 led to a sharp increase in demand for gaming hardware, including Nintendo consoles. As a result, Switch sales in the first half of 2021 increased by nearly 38% compared to the same period in 2019. This demonstrates significant consumer interest in the console, despite the unstable economic situation.

In the first half of 2021, quarantine measures, including self-isolation and remote working, remained in effect in a number of markets. These conditions contributed to the growth of sales of all three gaming devices. Quarantine restrictions encouraged people to seek new ways of entertainment, leading to increased interest in video games and gaming platforms. Thus, despite the challenging conditions, a positive trend in sales of gaming devices was observed, confirming the continued interest of consumers in games and entertainment technologies.

Accessories and Peripherals

In the first half of the year, sales of gaming accessories in the markets studied amounted to 8.2 million units. This figure indicates a sales decrease of 5% compared to the same period last year. The trend of declining interest in gaming accessories may be related to changes in consumer preferences and rising product prices. These factors must be taken into account for further market analysis and the development of strategies to increase sales.

In the first half of 2021, controllers once again became the best-selling accessories. The DualSense controller for PlayStation 5 took the top spot in sales, surpassing its predecessor, the DualShock 4. Additionally, the Pulse 3D wireless headset for PlayStation 5 became the most popular among users. These accessories highlight the growing interest in the PlayStation 5 ecosystem and provide players with new levels of immersion and comfort.

Store Wallets and Cards

In the current reporting period, there was a 24% decrease in sales of cards with digital points compared to the same period last year. The total number of cards sold reached 6.17 million, which resulted in revenue of €144 million. This decrease may indicate changes in consumer preferences and the market situation, which is important to take into account for further planning of sales strategies.

Cards for PlayStation Store occupy a leading position among products in this category. They allow users to easily and conveniently top up their accounts, as well as purchase games, add-ons and other digital goods. In recent years, the demand for such cards has increased significantly, which makes them popular among gamers. Using PlayStation Store Cards ensures fast and secure shopping, which is especially important for active users of the platform.

Video Games

In the first half of this year, 82 million video games were sold in Europe, a 22% decrease compared to the same period last year. While the first lockdown in Europe last year contributed to a sharp increase in sales of interactive entertainment products, data shows that compared to the first half of 2019, game sales increased by 5.6%. This demonstrates the fluctuations in the video game market and changing consumer interests depending on external factors.

During the reporting period, nearly 53 million games were downloaded, while approximately 29 million titles were purchased by gamers on physical media. This demonstrates a significant increase in interest in digital downloads, reflecting a shift in user preferences towards the convenience and accessibility of online gaming.

According to the latest data, over 67% of games sold in the monitored markets were downloaded from digital stores. This figure represents a slight increase from last year, when only 62% of titles were downloaded by users. The pandemic has significantly changed purchasing habits, but it remains unclear how this will affect large retail chains and stores selling physical copies of games, consoles, and other gaming products. Given current trends, digital distribution continues to gain popularity, and its impact on the market will only increase.

FIFA 21 took the top spot among the best-selling video games in the first six months of 2021. Meanwhile, the most successful physical titles were Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. These achievements highlight the popularity of sports games and platformers among players, as well as the importance of the physical format in the video game industry.

Mario the plumber's adventure has become the most successful game for the Nintendo Switch console. Spider-Man: Miles Morales took the position of the best-selling title on PlayStation 5, while Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War topped the charts on Xbox Series X/S consoles. FIFA 21 maintains its title of number one game on PlayStation 4, and Grand Theft Auto V continues to be a sales hit on Xbox One. These titles demonstrate the diversity and high quality of games available on modern gaming consoles.

Different countries have different preferences for video games. In the first six months of 2021, GTA V was the best-selling game in the UK, while Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury was the best-selling game in Germany. FIFA 21 was a hit in France, Spain, and Italy. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 was the best-selling game in Hong Kong, and Mortal Kombat 11 was the most successful game in Russia. It's worth noting that the data for Hong Kong and Russia only includes digital sales, highlighting the importance of these platforms in the modern gaming business.

In the first half of 2021, sales of new video games amounted to 9 million copies, which is a noticeable decrease compared to the 12.8 million new titles sold in the same period of 2020. This drop is even more significant when you consider that 17.2 million titles were sold in the first half of 2019. 2021 saw significantly fewer AAA games hit the market, especially compared to successful 2020 releases like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and The Last of Us: Part 2. The decline in interest in new games may be due to shifts in consumer preferences and changes in the video game industry.

• FIFA 21 (EA);
• Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar);
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (Activision);
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (Nintendo);
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft);
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar);
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom);
• Mario Kart 8: Deluxe (Nintendo);
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft);
• NBA 2K21 (2K Games);
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo);
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Sony);
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (Bandai Namco);
• Ring Fit Adventure (Nintendo);
• Just Dance 2021 (Ubisoft);
• Minecraft: Switch Edition (Mojang);
• Little Nightmares 2 (Bandai Namco);
• Mortal Kombat 11 (Warner Bros);
• Tekken 7 (Bandai) Namco);
• Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom).

• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (Nintendo);
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom);
• Little Nightmares 2 (Bandai Namco);
• Monster Hunter Rise (Capcom);
• It Takes Two (EA);
• Outriders (Square Enix);
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Sony);
• Mass Effect: Legendary Edition (EA);
• New Pokémon Snap (Nintendo);
• Persona 5 Strikers (Atlus).

• Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar);
• FIFA 21 (EA);
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (Ubisoft);
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (Activision Blizzard);
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar);
• NBA 2K21 (2K Games);
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (Bandai Namco);
• Little Nightmares (Bandai) Namco);
• Tekken 7 (Bandai Namco);
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom).

• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (Nintendo);
• FIFA 21 (EA);
• Mario Kart 8: Deluxe (Nintendo);
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo);
• Ring Fit Adventure (Nintendo);
• Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition (Mojang);
• Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar);
• Just Dance 2021 (Ubisoft);
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft);
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Sony).

The EMEAA region includes countries in Europe, including Russia, as well as countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania. This vast region is characterized by a diversity of cultures, economies, and languages, making it an important part of the global economy.

Sony Corporation recently released its financial report for the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The company's gaming division achieved record revenue, but operating profit showed a slight decline.