Best-selling video games in the UK in March 2023

According to the Games Sales Data charts (GSD), sales figures for both video games and consoles increased in the UK during this past quarter, compared to that of the previous year.

With a figure of nearly 8 million games sold so far this year, the data from the GSD shows a 1% increase in sales from the same period in 2022. Bearing in mind that 2022’s first quarter saw the launch of several AAA titles such as Elden Ring and Pokémon Legends: Arceus, this 2023 increase in sales is quite an achievement.

Most of this year’s success so far can be attributed to the release of the highly-anticipated Hogwarts Legacy. The Harry Potter title quickly became the fastest-selling video game in the United Kingdom since the release of Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2, back in 2018.

Sales for consoles are also up a whopping 25% this quarter, according to the data. This impressive figure is primarily due to the steady supply of the PlayStation 5 consoles, which was mostly in very short supply or even absent from shelves for the first half of 2022. PS5 sales are up nearly 200% so far this year, as Sony’s recent console success now accounts for more than half of all consoles sold in 2023, with the Nintendo Switch and Xbox consoles dropping by over 25% and 18% respectively.

Although it was released late in the month, the Resident Evil 4 Remake ended the month of March in the No.1 sales position. Despite incredible reviews and fan reception, the game has sold fewer copies than both the Resident Evil 2 Remake and Resident Evil Village, in their first month of release. As another measure of success for the surging PlayStation platform, more than 60% of Resident Evil 4 purchases were made on the Sony console, more than tripling those sold on Xbox.

WWE 2K23 came in at the No.4 spot and was one of the only other major releases in March. This year’s edition of the popular wrestling title has sold around 20% fewer copies in its first month of release compared to that of its predecessor, WWE 2K22.

March also saw decent sales figures for new releases Tchia and Metroid Prime remastered which finished the month in the No. 6 and No. 9 positions. Hogwarts Legacy also continues to enjoy success, finishing the month in the No.2 position, just behind Resident Evil 4 Remake.

Although the PlayStation 5 finished the month way ahead in the No.1 position for the number of consoles sold, overall sales for the quarter have slipped slightly by 2% compared to last year. Total sales figures for all consoles combined have also dipped by around 3% compared to February’s numbers, however, compared to March 2022 has risen by more than 20%.

The Nintendo Switch was the second highest-selling console for March, partly thanks to the release of the new Super Mario 35th anniversary hardware bundle, which included a limited edition ‘Red’ Nintendo Switch console. The upcoming months will also be crucial for 2023 Nintendo Switch sales, with the long-awaited release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, scheduled for May 12th.

As far as accessory sales go, more than 600,000 items were sold during the month of March, for an increase of around 20% compared to February. However, this is nearly 4% lower than the total of March 2022.

Thanks to a price drop promotion, the Carbon Black edition of the Xbox Wireless Controller climbed three places to become the No.1 selling accessory for March, in terms of units sold. This knocked the PS5 DualSense controller off the top spot for the first time in several months.

The highest-grossing accessory for March was Sony’s DualSense Edge Wireless Controller. After enjoying its first full month on shelves in March, it rose from the No. 9 position in February to the No.1 this month. After initially only being available directly from Sony, the controller is now on sale in retail stores across the UK.