October 23rd 2024.
The trend of declining console sales in the US continued in September, with EA Sports FC 25 emerging as the top-selling game and PS5 as the leading console. It's no secret that both Xbox and PlayStation are gearing up for next-gen consoles, but for many gamers, the current generation has just begun and it's too early to start thinking about the next one.
However, things are not looking good for Xbox after their disappointing performance during last Christmas' holiday season. In the US, it's become apparent that it's all downhill from here for the Xbox Series X/S. And while PlayStation has outsold Xbox by a significant margin, they too are experiencing a decline in sales after reaching their peak earlier than expected.
The September sales results from the US further solidify this downward trend, with the soon-to-be-replaced Nintendo Switch outselling both next-gen consoles. Overall, there was a 44% drop in console spending compared to the same time period in 2023, reaching its lowest point since 2019.
Out of the three consoles, Xbox Series X/S saw the biggest drop in sales at 54%, followed by PlayStation 5 at 45%. The Nintendo Switch had a more modest decline of 23% from 2023. While there are no official sales figures for the month, estimates suggest that PlayStation 5 sold around 280,000 units, Nintendo Switch sold 165,000 units, and Xbox Series X/S sold 150,000 units.
The worldwide sales numbers for Xbox Series X/S are also not available, but it's believed to be around 30 million. PlayStation 5 has sold 60 million units, and Nintendo Switch has sold over 143 million units. It's worth noting that 51% of Xbox sales this generation in the US were for the pricier Xbox Series X, while only 18% were for the cheaper Xbox Series S. In comparison, the cheaper PlayStation 5 Digital Edition without a disc drive accounted for 40% of sales in September.
In terms of software sales, EA Sports FC 25 took the top spot in the US, followed by Astro Bot at number two. This is a rare achievement for an EA football game, as the second entry in the series saw double-digit growth for the franchise. It had the best month of sales for any football game in the US.
Astro Bot, on the other hand, solidified its position as a successful game for Sony, ranking as the 25th best-selling game of the year. While it may not be one of their biggest hits, it's a profitable game to make compared to titles like Spider-Man 2 and God of War.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom placed fourth in the chart, but this does not include digital sales. Nintendo is not the only company that doesn't reveal digital sales, as NBA 2K25 and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 would have ranked higher if digital sales were included. Space Marine 2 has exceeded expectations, and it's a shame that we don't have a clearer picture of its sales. However, the biggest surprise in the top 20 is that Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics debuted at number 16.
This is an impressive achievement for a collection of old 2D fighting games and may prompt Capcom and Marvel to consider a new entry in the franchise. The top 10 best-selling games in the US for September were EA Sports FC 25, Astro Bot, Madden NFL 25, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, EA Sports College Football 25, Star Wars Outlaws, NBA 2K25, Hogwarts Legacy, NHL 25, and God of War Ragnarök. Please note that digital sales were not included for NBA 2K25 and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
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