According to new data by Circana the video game industry had some exciting moments in 2024, with big names making a strong impact. Let me break down the most important highlights from the year’s final month and overall performance.
Call of Duty Maintains Dominant Position
Activision’s Call of Duty stayed on top, holding its title as the best-selling game series for the 16th year in a row. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 led the annual sales, proving the franchise’s strong grip on the market.
It wasn’t all about one game this year. EA Sports College Football 25 came in second in annual sales, and Marvel Rivals had a great start, becoming popular among monthly players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.
Market Performance and Consumer Spending
2024 presented a challenging year for the video game industry. Total consumer spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories dropped by 8.9%, reaching $7.5 billion compared to the previous year. The overall video game market experienced a slight decline of 1.1%, totaling $58.7 billion against 2023’s $59.2 billion.
Breaking down the numbers:
- Game content spending decreased by 5%
- Hardware spending plummeted by 29%
- Accessory spending remained consistent
Console Market Dynamics
The console market went through big changes. Xbox and Nintendo saw the biggest drops, with sales falling by 38% for both. PlayStation 5 also took a hit, with an 18% drop. Interestingly, nearly half of the PS5 consoles (49%) and 43% of Xbox Series consoles sold in December didn’t include a disc drive.
The PlayStation Portal stood out as the best-selling accessory, although the PS5 DualSense controller led in total units sold. PlayStation 5 has now secured its position as the third-biggest console in lifetime sales, trailing only the Nintendo Switch and Xbox 360.
Mobile Gaming Highlights
Roblox had an impressive December. Consumer spending on the platform went up by 24% compared to November, with a big boost during Christmas, bringing in almost $12 million in U.S. mobile spending. This was a 35% increase compared to the same holiday period last year.
Call of Duty: Mobile also experienced impressive growth, with US consumer spend increasing by 20% during Season 11: Winter War 2.
The gaming industry is constantly changing, staying creative and strong even with some challenges. Every platform and game offers something unique, keeping players interested and looking forward to what’s coming next.
