The video game industry in the United States had an impressive start to 2024, bringing in a total of $5.1 billion, 15% over January 2023. Led by software spending, which also went up 15% to $4.4 billion, a downturn in hardware sales wasn’t enough to put a dent in the total. Hardware dropped 4% to $378 million, but even the bad news has a silver lining.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 was the top console for January 2024, but Nintendo Switch and Microsoft’s Xbox consoles split second place, with Nintendo taking overall hardware sales but Microsoft claiming the dollar sales title. Despite recent news at Sony’s latest investor call, the PlayStation 5 is ahead of the PlayStation 4 at this point in the generational cycle by 7% and 68% beyond the PlayStation 3.
As for games, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 took the top spot again, but right behind it is a trio of brand new titles. Tekken 8 came in at No. 2, the critically derided Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League claimed Np. 3, while Atlus’ Persona 3: Reloaded is No. 4. The last one is impressive for the Japanese-centric franchise, considering the original Persona 3 barely registered in the United States.
Madden NFL 24 was the last of the top five, followed by Hogwarts Legacy, a year after its release, at No. 6.
The only other new titles to place at the top of the chart were SEGA’s Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, coming in at No. 7, Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown at No. 13, and the anime title JuJutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash at No. 19.
Accessory sales saw a spike over last year, 45% to be precise, with the Sony PlayStation 5 Dual Sense Edge Wireless Black Controller as the top seller yet again. Consumers spent a total of $245 million on accessories in January.
Top 20 best-selling video games in the U.S. in January 2024:
Rank | Last Month | Title |
---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 |
2 | New | Tekken 8 |
3 | New | Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League |
4 | New | Persona 3 Reload |
5 | 3 | Madden NFL 24 |
6 | 4 | Hogwarts Legacy |
7 | New | Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth |
8 | 7 | EA Sports FC 24 |
9 | 167 | The Last of Us: Part 2 |
10 | 5 | Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 |
11 | 2 | Super Mario Bros. Wonder |
12 | 6 | Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora |
13 | New | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown |
14 | 16 | Elden Ring |
15 | 8 | Mortal Kombat 1 |
16 | 21 | Gran Turismo 7 |
17 | 13 | Minecraft |
18 | 10 | Mario Kart 8* |
19 | New | Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash |
20 | 14 | God of War: Ragnarok |