European Gaming Industry Soars with 33% Sales Surge in May, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Tops the Charts
According to the latest GSD data via Gamesindustry.biz, the European gaming industry experienced a remarkable 33% increase in sales compared to the same period last year. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom topped the sales charts, propelling gaming sales to new heights. It sold more than 2.5 times the number of copies as the second-placed game, Hogwarts Legacy.
European Gaming Sales Charts, May 2023 via Gamesindustry.biz
Within just three weeks, Zelda secured its position as the third best-selling game of the year across Europe, trailing only behind FIFA 23 and Hogwarts Legacy. A remarkable feat considering that Nintendo does not share digital download data, putting Zelda’s dominance into perspective.
On the other hand, Hogwarts Legacy with the release of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, experienced a staggering 321% increase in sales compared to the previous month. PlayStation 4 accounted for the majority of sales at 71.5%, followed by 11.7% on Xbox One, while the remaining sales were distributed among current-gen consoles and PC platforms.
Driven by the immense success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the Nintendo Switch overtook the PlayStation 5 to become Europe’s number one console in May. With a remarkable 39% increase in sales compared to the previous year, the Switch regained its throne.
However, the PlayStation 5 remained a strong contender, securing second place and witnessing an impressive 81% rise in sales compared to May 2022. Xbox Series S and X claimed the third position, despite a 16% decline in sales from the previous year.
Now if we talk about the sales of peripherals and add-on products in the region. A staggering 1.3 million of these items were sold last month, marking a remarkable 30% increase compared to the previous year. The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller retained its position as the best-selling accessory, closely followed by the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which experienced an astounding 530% surge in sales, thanks to the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Additionally, the Tears of the Kingdom Amiibo secured the fifth spot among the best-selling accessories, while the Nintendo Switch OLED Carry Case made its debut at number ten, featuring a captivating Zelda-themed design.
What are your thoughts on the performance of the European gaming industry in May 2023? Let us know in the comments section below.
