It was a tricky April for the UK PC and console video games market, with gross sales down on video games and {hardware}. Slightly below 111,000 consoles had been bought within the UK in the course of the month, which is 20% down over March. Nonetheless, the silver lining is that figures are 20% up over April final yr.
PlayStation 5 was once more the top-selling console of the month, adopted by Nintendo Swap after which Xbox Collection S and X. PS5 gross sales fell 35% over March however is up 15% in contrast with April final yr. In the meantime, Xbox Collection S and X gross sales are down 32% over March, however up 8% over the identical interval the yr earlier than. Nonetheless, the month’s huge winner was the Nintendo Swap, which was up 26% over March and 30% up over April 2022.
This was principally because of the new Zelda version of the console, which was launched proper on the finish of the month, but it surely nonetheless managed to account for 29% of all Swap consoles bought final month. Relating to video video games, 2.2 million PC and console titles had been bought throughout the UK final month, a drop of 8% over April final yr.
The very best-selling sport was comfortably Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which shot to first place after only a week on sale. It’s a robust begin, with launch gross sales up 31% over its 2019 predecessor: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Fallen Order’s digital gross sales accounted for 36% of its complete gross sales, whereas Survivor’s digital gross sales accounted for 66% — one other clear indicator of how digital has accelerated from pre-pandemic to post-pandemic.
Lifeless Island 2 makes 2nd with a robust launch, though obtainable information doesn’t go far sufficient again to check to the unique, which got here out in 2011 (a full two console generations in the past). Nonetheless, these two huge releases couldn’t match the launch gross sales of final yr’s huge April launch: LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
Lastly, just below 487,000 equipment and add-on merchandise had been bought within the UK final month, which is down 21% over March and 6% down over April 2022. After a month from the highest spot, the PS5 White DualSense controller retakes first, whereas final month’s prime vendor, the Xbox Wi-fi Controller Carbon Black, drops to 3rd.
1. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
2. Lifeless Island 2
3. FIFA 23
4. Grand Theft Auto 5
5. Hogwarts Legacy
6. Name of Responsibility: Trendy Warfare 2
7. Resident Evil 4 Remake
8. Pink Lifeless Redemption 2
9. WWE 2K23
10. NBA 2K23