Big-name video games released in September have sold less at launch than their predecessors across Europe, according to fresh data.
Data from Game Sales Data (GSD), which tracks physical and digital sales, shows declines for EA Sports FC 24, Warner Bros. Games’ Mortal Kombat 1, and 2K’s NBA 2K24 compared to launch sales of their predecessors.
As reported by GI.biz, FC 24 launch sales are down 10% compared to the launch sales of FIFA 23 last year in Europe. GI points out FIFA 23 was a monster hit for EA, but FC 24 launch sales are still down compared to 2021’s FIFA 22 by 3.7%. Of course, it’s worth pointing out that EA’s football video game franchise changed its name this year after EA Sports’ relationship with FIFA broke down. According to GI.biz, EA had anticipated a decline as a result.
Last week, EA announced FC 24 had more than 11.3 million players worldwide, including through EA Play. New players in FC 24 are up nearly 20% year-over-year, EA added. As usual, FC 24 sold best in the UK.
Meanwhile, NBA 2K24's opening three weeks on sale are down 17% compared with those of NBA 2K23, GI.biz said. And while Bethesda’s Starfield was the best-selling game in the U.S. in September despite also launching day one on Game Pass, in Europe its first four weeks on sale were 13% below those of Playground’s Forza Horizon 5, which launched in 2021 across PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and S.
Even NetherRealm’s Mortal Kombat 1 suffered a decline, with launch sales down nearly 39% versus those of Mortal Kombat 11 in Europe. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Ubisoft’s The Crew Motorfest enjoyed 6.5% more launch sales than The Crew 2’s. The racer is particularly popular in France.
So what’s going on here? Each game released in September has its own story to tell sales wise, but generally speaking the ongoing cost of living crisis is hitting consumer spending hard.
We’re also seeing a stacked release schedule as games delayed by COVID-19 lockdowns bunch up for release this year. August through to November is particularly release heavy, with everything from Baldur’s Gate 3 to Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Starfield and Spider-Man 2 launching within the same three-month period.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.