Nintendo Switch sales saw a significant boost in the United Kingdom in April, fueled by the launch of the highly anticipated game, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom special edition. The game’s release brought a 26% surge in Switch sales from March and a 30% increase compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by GfK and reported by GamesIndustry.biz.
Despite the surge, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) remained the bestselling console in the UK in April, outselling the Switch despite a 35% month-on-month decline in sales compared to March 2023. The Xbox Series X/S wasn’t left out of the decline, as its sales in April were down 32% compared to March 2023, but up 8% in comparison to April 2022.
GSD Data revealed that approximately 111,000 consoles were sold in the UK during April, a 20% dip from the previous month but a 20% boost from April 2022. During the same period, 2.2 million PC and console titles were purchased, accounting for both physical and digital sales, except for Nintendo sales with some exceptions.
The latest game Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom special edition was released in the last week of April and had an immediate impact on Nintendo Switch sales. In a press release, GfK noted that the game’s launch was instrumental in keeping customer demand for Switch consoles alive and driving the surge in sales.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was the bestselling game in the UK last month, according to industry figures. Meanwhile, digital sales for PC and console gaming titles represented 90% of total sales for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, accounting for twice the number of sales of the physical edition back in 2019.
The gaming industry in the UK continues to experience ups and downs due to factors such as console shortages, game development challenges and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the launch of new games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom special edition and the increasing popularity of digital sales, the industry is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
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The material in this article is written on the basis of another article.
Ink Alchemist