90% of European Gaming Revenue Comes from Digital Sales
The balance of power in the gaming world is rapidly shifting, and the European market offers the clearest example of this transformation. While the majority of game revenues come from digital sales, the share of physical copies is shrinking year by year. This shift offers striking insights into player habits and the direction of the industry.
The Digital Transformation in Game
Revenue 2024 report, published by Video Games Europe, revealed the extent of digitalization in the gaming industry. According to the report, total game revenue in Europe increased by 4%, with 90% of this revenue coming from digital sales. The digital market, which saw a 5% increase compared to 2023, has virtually wiped out physical sales. Today, only 10% of game revenue in Europe comes from boxed versions.
The decline in physical copies has been ongoing for a long time. The share, which stood at 20% in 2020, has halved in four years. This rapid decline points to a number of factors, from game companies’ production choices to players’ usage habits. The limited physical editions of major titles, in particular, are seen as one of the most significant reasons for this process.
The report details also reveal the distribution of revenue across platforms. Mobile games are the largest revenue source with a 44% share, while consoles remain at 38% and PC at 15%. Cloud-based services account for a smaller 4% share. Interestingly, despite the increase in PC revenue, there is a 3% decrease in the percentage of PC gamers. It’s noteworthy that while console players are growing, revenues are declining on consoles.
The report also listed the best-selling games in Europe. Helldivers 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 topped the list, while GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, Hogwarts Legacy, and the EA FC series also made the list. The juxtaposition of both new games and timeless productions proved that the classics are still strong despite the digitalization process.
