Best-selling video games in Europe in September 2024

In September 2024, the European video game market saw a significant surge, with sales jumping over 20% compared to the same month last year. According to the latest GSD data, a total of 17.6 million PC and console games were sold across Europe, marking a robust month for the industry, which saw several high-profile releases and aggressive marketing campaigns driving growth. The performance of popular franchises like EA Sports FC 25, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Astro Bot, and others contributed substantially to the uptick in sales.

Top Performers and New Releases

Leading the charts in September was EA Sports FC 25. Despite a softer launch compared to the previous year’s iteration, with initial sales down by 2% in the first two weeks, the higher-priced premium version fared better. Sales for the premium version, which offered early access, were nearly 10% higher than the equivalent version last year. This mixed result suggests a stable yet slightly changing landscape for the popular football game, with some players opting for the premium access while others may have delayed their purchase.

Following EA Sports FC 25, Ubisoft’s The Crew 2 claimed the second spot, a surprising feat for a game released back in 2018. Ubisoft capitalized on a strategic promotional campaign, where the game was practically given away for free, requiring only a minimal platform fee of €1. This aggressive approach breathed new life into the title, propelling it back into the limelight and demonstrating the enduring appeal of open-world racing games when coupled with effective pricing strategies.

The standout surprise for the month was undoubtedly Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which raced into third place. The game has quickly become one of the top-selling new releases of the year, outperforming other high-profile titles such as Dragon’s Dogma 2, The Last of Us Part 2: Remastered, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Space Marine 2 is not just a major success for the Warhammer franchise, it’s on track to become the best-selling Warhammer game across Europe, potentially eclipsing the Total War: Warhammer series. This performance is a testament to the franchise’s broadening appeal and the anticipation surrounding this particular sequel.

Another notable release was Astro Bot, a 3D platformer from PlayStation that had a strong debut. Four weeks into its launch, its sales exceeded those of previous 3D platformers such as Sonic Frontiers (by 34%) and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (by 52%). Its performance even surpassed that of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart over a comparable period in 2021, marking a promising reception for the game, which aimed to appeal to a broad audience on the PS5 platform.

Other Highlights in September’s Charts

The European charts saw several other prominent titles making an impact. NBA 2K25 landed at number six, showing a modest 1% increase in launch sales compared to its predecessor, 2K24. This slight uptick may indicate a steady but not overwhelming growth in demand for the basketball simulation series.

Nintendo’s latest entry in the Zelda franchise, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, debuted at number eight. The game was only available for a week when the charts were compiled, and its position was based exclusively on physical sales since Nintendo does not share its digital sales data. While physical sales were 15% lower than the 2019 release of Link’s Awakening, the true impact of the game’s launch remains difficult to gauge given the rise of digital downloads in recent years.

Rounding out the top ten was the revival of the Test Drive franchise with Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, signaling a successful return for the racing series after a hiatus.

Hardware and Accessories Market Trends

While software sales showed robust growth, the hardware market experienced a downturn. Across tracked European markets, 335,000 consoles were sold in September 2024, marking an 18% decline compared to the previous year. The PS5 maintained its lead as the top-selling console despite a 17% year-on-year drop in sales. In contrast, the Nintendo Switch managed a slight 1.5% increase in sales, possibly spurred by the launch of the Zelda-themed Switch Lite.

The Xbox Series S and X suffered the most significant decline, with sales plummeting by 58% compared to last year. This sharp drop can be partly attributed to the absence of a major Xbox release comparable to Starfield from September 2023, which had driven console sales then.

In the accessories segment, nearly 1.1 million items were sold, representing a 2.4% year-over-year decline. The PS5 DualSense controller remained the top-selling accessory, potentially bolstered by the release of the special edition Astro Bot variant, which added some variety to the product lineup.

A Broader Look at the Market

Overall, September 2024 showcased the gaming industry’s ability to drive substantial growth through strategic promotions and anticipated releases. The resurgence of older titles like The Crew 2, the solid debut of sequels such as Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and the continuous success of established franchises like EA Sports FC highlighted the dynamic nature of the market. However, the mixed performance in hardware sales suggested that the industry might be shifting towards a more software-centric growth phase, with digital content and innovative game releases serving as primary drivers.