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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

2.9 million video games were sold in the UK during October, a rise of 3.2% over the year before.

That's according to GSD, which tracks digital and physical sales in the UK.

Unsurprisingly, the month was led by Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. This is the first game in the series that was available in the Game Pass subscription service (available on Xbox and PC) from launch, which inevitably had a negative impact on its premium sales. Indeed, compared with 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, launch sales are 11% lower.

If we just focus on sales of the franchise on PlayStation platforms (PS4 and PS5), where Game Pass isn't available, we can see that premium sales are up 24% year-on-year. So overall, it looks like a positive launch for the series this year.

Almost 75% of the game's sales came on PlayStation platforms, with 15% on PC and just under 11% on Xbox.

At No.2 is EA Sports FC 25. Sales of the football game are 14% lower this October compared to what last year's version managed over the same time period.

We have another new game at No.3 in the form of Dragon Ball: Sparkling! Zero by Bandai Namco. It's been a real breakout hit so far, with sales for the first four weeks being 80% up over the previous best, 2020's Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Just behind Dragon Ball is another big October success story in Undisputed by Steel City Interactive and Plaion. The game began life as a small indie title being created by three brothers, and has gone on to secure numerous major boxing licenses. It's the second biggest sports game release of the year, ahead of F1 24, NBA 2K25 and EA Sports College Football 25 (but behind EA Sports FC 25). And as a fighting game, it's even managed to outperform Tekken 8, which released earlier this year.

Another new game at No.4 is Silent Hill 2. It's a solid launch for the remake of the classic horror game, although doesn't quite reach the heights of other recent horror remakes. Launch sales are 32% lower than what the Dead Space remake managed in 2023, and 62% lower than the remake of Resident Evil 4 (also released in 2023).

New from Nintendo is Super Mario Party Jamboree at No.9. Sales up 11% over 2018's Super Mario Party but 4% down over 2021's Mario Party Superstars (based on first two weeks of sales). Nintendo doesn't share digital data with the charts company, so this date is purely physical unit sales.

Finally, at No.10 we have Sonic X Shadows Generations from Sega. The game did a lot better than last year's 2D entry Sonic Superstars (launch sales up 150%), but is down 21% over the launch of 2022's Sonic Frontiers.

Elsewhere, Metaphor: Refantazio debuts at No.12 and the Until Dawn remake comes in at No.30.

Over in hardware, sales of games consoles rose 14% month-on-month with just under 144,000 devices sold, NielsenIQ/GfK data reveals. However, sales are down 18% over October 2023.

Sales of PS5 consoles rose 27% month-on-month but was 18% down year-on-year. Switch sales increased 13% month-on-month but dropped 18% year-on-year, while Xbox Series consoles fell 7% month-on-month and dropped nearly 17% year-on-year.

Elsewhere, 681,000 accessories were sold across the UK last month, which was over 8% down over September but up nearly 16% over October 2023. PlayStation controllers continue to dominate the top two positions (White at No.1 this month and Midnight Black at No.2), while the PlayStation Portal continues to do good numbers, rising four places to No.4.

UK GSD September 2024 Top 10 (Digital and Physical)​

Position	Title
1	Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Activision Blizzard)
2	EA Sports FC 25 (EA)
3	Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero (Bandai Namco)
4	Undisputed (Plaion)
5	Silent Hill 2 (Konami)
6	Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros)
7	Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar)
8	Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (Pullup Entertainment)
9	Super Mario Party Jamboree (Nintendo)*
10	Sonic X Shadows Generations (Sega)

*Digital data unavailable

Dragon Ball and Undisputed deliver big sales in October, as Call of Duty claims No.1 | UK Monthly Report

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a real success for Bandai Namco, Call of Duty premium sales are down and Undisputed has been a knockout hit

www.gamesindustry.biz

---

HW estimation via Install Base:

• PS5 = ~82K
• NSW = ~32K
• XBS = ~30K

 

[Cyborg]

XBS is back baby

 

[SweetTooth]

We keep winning boys

 

[Woopah]

Great to see Undisputed and DragonBall be so successful! Those hardware sales are pretty good too with some soft drops.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Almost 75% of the game's sales came on PlayStation platforms, with 15% on PC and just under 11% on Xbox.

So COD got most of its sales on Playstation and no one bought an Xbox for COD which had the same sales decrease as everyone else.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

So COD got most of its sales on Playstation and no one bought an Xbox for COD which had the same sales decrease as everyone else.

As noted, CoD needs PlayStation more than the other way around! Jimbo shoulda been paying attention!

 

[kaizenkko]

So COD got most of its sales on Playstation and no one bought an Xbox for COD which had the same sales decrease as everyone else.

Thinking that people would buy a Xbox just to play COD is delusional.

 

[Horseganador]

Call Of Duty Black Ops 6, Sales Spilt Per Platform:

-PlayStation: 75%
-PC: 15%
-Xbox: 10%

COD is too dependent on PS (in Europe the difference will be greater), many millions of subs have had to raise the GP to compensate for such a debacle in sales, and xbox continues to decline in sales even with COD included in the GP....

 

[PatientGamer]

I wonder what would've happened if COD was exclusive to Xbox, would it have sold many systems, or would PS owners just not have bothered? I can't imagine PS owners who always buy COD each year, avoid it entirely if it wasn't available on PS.

They'd probably all get it on PC instead tbf.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

I wonder what would've happened if COD was exclusive to Xbox,

I think we know the answer

 

[Insanemaelstrom]

I feel that the situation will be more favourable for Xbox(in regards to cod on gamepass) in US and countries like India. Although it still depends whether the whole exercise was worth it

 

[Unknown?]

My boy Shadow pulling a top 10!

 

[SweetTooth]

"Sales of PS5 consoles rose 27% month-on-month but was 18% down year-on-year. Switch sales increased 13% month-on-month but dropped 18% year-on-year, while Xbox Series consoles fell 7% month-on-month and dropped nearly 17% year-on-year."

Xbox Sales:

 

[rm082e]

As noted, CoD needs PlayStation more than the other way around! Jimbo shoulda been paying attention!

So the net effect of all this is Microsoft just forfeited the revenue from the units they could have sold to Game Pass members?

 

[HeWhoWalks]

So the net effect of all this is Microsoft just forfeited the revenue from the units they could have sold to Game Pass members?

Basically. Of course, if it works for them, more power to it. The biggest casualty is Xbox hardware.

 

[SweetTooth]

I wonder what would've happened if COD was exclusive to Xbox,

CoD:

 

[rm082e]

Basically. Of course, if it works for them, more power to it. The biggest casualty is Xbox hardware.

I don't really see how selling less units and not increasing console sales can be spun as a positive for them...

 

[HeWhoWalks]

I don't really see how selling less units and not increasing console sales can be spun as a positive for them...

Because they surely factored that in prior to release. The point was to increase Game Pass subs, which is why they acquired Acti in the first place.

 

[PauloRoberto]

I don't really see how selling less units and not increasing console sales can be spun as a positive for them...

They can twist numbers and show things like number of times a weapon was reloaded, number of steps given in a specific direction, and so on and so forfh... MS is a specialist in giving useless numbers and tiwst them in a positive way, at least since Windows Phone.

 

[Klayzer]

I don't really see how selling less units and not increasing console sales can be spun as a positive for them...

You sweet summer child. They're posters here who's exact job, is to spin a negative into a big brain positive.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

You sweet summer child. They're posters here who's exact job, is to spin a negative into big brain positive.

If this is aimed at me, there aren’t enough laugh emojis on this site to bitch slap you with.

Instead of the typical copy/paste post about “spinning”, why not offer a rebuttal? What were Microsoft’s expectations with CoD? Increase Xbox sales while offering it for less than $20 through a Game Pass sub?

 

[SweetTooth]

If this is aimed at me, there aren’t enough laugh emojis on this site to bitch slap you with.

That said, instead of the typical copy/paste post about “spinning”, why not offer a rebuttal. What were Microsoft’s expectations with CoD?

Even MS doesn't know, they are this clueless and Activision CEO managed the robbery of a lifetime

 

[XXL]

If they want better sales on PC they should put it 85% off on Steam, make it sprite based and have it take place in China.

 

[Kvally]

Read chart wrong!

 

[XXL]

Dayum, down 82K.

82K that's more than the budget for 99% of PC games.

 

[Heisenberg007]

So COD got most of its sales on Playstation and no one bought an Xbox for COD which had the same sales decrease as everyone else.

People keep overestimating the, "but the game is available on Game Pass."

Gamers are happy to pay for their games, which is why Game Pass has stalled. COD is not gonna increase Xbox sales. It won't even increase Game Pass subscribers either in the long-term.

 

[jm89]

Dayum, down 82K.

That ain't It chief.

It sold an estimated 82k.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Dayum, down 82K.

Down from the previous year's high numbers. Here are the statistics that show the real picture:

• PS5 is up 27% from last month, down 18% from last year
• Switch is up 14% from last month but down 18% from last year
• Xbox fell 7% from last month and is down nearly 17% from last year

The only issue here is with Xbox. Even COD on Game Pass couldn't get those Xbox numbers up.

 

[yazenov]

So COD got most of its sales on Playstation and no one bought an Xbox for COD which had the same sales decrease as everyone else.

Thank you to the mods for the updated topic title.


Looks like it's on track with some differences, differences that can (and likely will) be overcome with CoD bundles and/or other assorted deals very easily.

Imagine a $199 CoD Series S bundle with 3/6 months of Game Pass. It's gonna sell like hotcakes.

To be fair to adamsapple there were no $199 series S bundles but I don't think that would make much of a difference. People are buying more XBX than XBS, but they are still getting almost 3x less than PS5 in their strongest market besides the US

 

[Ozriel]

If you needed more evidence of marketing and leadership incompetence at Xbox, the fact that they couldn’t even get a COD bundle going should speak volumes. Reduction in hardware sales month-on-month when COD releases is an unmitigated shitshow.

Well past time for new blood at MS. Phil and Greenberg need to move on.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

That ain't It chief.

It sold an estimated 82k.

And it’s more than NSW and XS COMBINED

 

[twilo99]

As noted, CoD needs PlayStation more than the other way around! Jimbo shoulda been paying attention!

PlayStation doesn’t need CoD or FC .. Marvel can carry the brand without a problem

 

[yazenov]

Black Ops 6 down 11% from Modern warfare 3 is hilariously bad, even with some sales lost to Gamepass. Modern warfare 3 was shit.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

So COD got most of its sales on Playstation and no one bought an Xbox for COD which had the same sales decrease as everyone else.

 

[Kvally]

That ain't It chief.

It sold an estimated 82k.

Yeah, I read the ~ as -

 

[Klayzer]

If this is aimed at me, there aren’t enough laugh emojis on this site to bitch slap you with.

Instead of the typical copy/paste post about “spinning”, why not offer a rebuttal? What were Microsoft’s expectations with CoD? Increase Xbox sales while offering it for less than $20 through a Game Pass sub?

Lol. Dude, calm down. It wasn't aimed at you. It was just a poke at Team Green.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

Lol. Dude, calm down. It wasn't aimed at you. It was just a poke at Team Green.

I’m quite calm, actually. Just offering you the best possible perspective.

 

[Mr Moose]

If we just focus on sales of the franchise on PlayStation platforms (PS4 and PS5), where Game Pass isn't available, we can see that premium sales are up 24% year-on-year.

 

[Brucey]

If you needed more evidence of marketing and leadership incompetence at Xbox, the fact that they couldn’t even get a COD bundle going should speak volumes. Reduction in hardware sales month-on-month when COD releases is an unmitigated shitshow.

Well past time for new blood at MS. Phil and Greenberg need to move on.

Xbox bundles don't make sense anymore, bundle with cod which you can get on gamepass anyway? Same issue they had with their last Forza bundle.

 

[PeteBull]

Those october sales data are great and all, but what we really want and need are november sales data, hoping for another rare incel victory

 

[jumpship]

Down from the previous year's high numbers. Here are the statistics that show the real picture:

• PS5 is up 27% from last month, down 18% from last year
• Switch is up 14% from last month but down 18% from last year
• Xbox fell 7% from last month and is down nearly 17% from last year

The only issue here is with Xbox. Even COD on Game Pass couldn't get those Xbox numbers up.

Not that I expected huge sales but would this also cover the updated Xbox consoles launch period too?

 

[Brucey]

Those october sales data are great and all, but what we really want and need are november sales data, hoping for another rare incel victory

"Pre season doesn't matter"
Greenberg.

 

[SweetTooth]

Those october sales data are great and all, but what we really want and need are november sales data, hoping for another rare incel victory

I'm genuinely confused by this statement because I couldn't know which console you meant.

If you meant PS5, then the victory is not RARE. Been happening since Nov 2020.

if you meant Switch and/or Xbox then the word "Another" doesn't make sense here..

You confused me man

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

I'm genuinely confused by this statement because I couldn't know which console you meant.

If you meant PS5, then the victory is not RARE. Been happening since Nov 2020.

if you meant Switch and/or Xbox then the word "Another" doesn't make sense here..

You confused me man

Those october sales data are great and all, but what we really want and need are november sales data, hoping for another rare incel victory

He's presumably talking about Dragon Age Veilguard.

Also, I'm noticing that the discourse is at an all time low in these threads.

 

[Kvally]

^obviously not talking about my wiener.

 

[SweetTooth]

He's presumably talking about Dragon Age Veilguard.

Also, I'm noticing that the discourse is at an all time low in these threads.

Im not familiar with drama around Dragon Age.. thanks for explaining

 

[Fake]

There is only one Dragon game.

 

[UchihaMadara]

Welfare estimates -

PS5: 86K
XBS: 30K
NSW: 27K

 

[Spitfire098]

MS excs probably have a hard on seeing how better COD does on PS than their own fledgling console...and you know what that means

 

[ExtendEmbraceExtinguish]

As noted, CoD needs PlayStation more than the other way around! Jimbo shoulda been paying attention!

That’s not what jimbo was worried about. It’s the top 20 games sold tied to msft with shrinking margins for competitors and cloud aka a way around 30% mtx for Sony.

This would affect Sony’s output for games thus leaving them dependent on 3rd parties as their 1st party releases would be infrequent. The normal way out is increase budget & go first in class, unless it becomes risky. The aid are deals with 3rd parties for exclusive titles until they need growth and start shunning exclusivity.

TLDR: it’s all going to pc; thus tossing a Monkey wrench into a well oiled ps warmachine. Hardware components prices have not dropped (next gen 700 minimum or weaker hardware for mass market), & generations are dead. Jimbo & co now have to evaluate how to navigate strange waters.
Sony should hit 100 million consoles easily but that’s not the problem.