European Game Sales Stumble In September 2023: EA Sports FC 24, NBA 2K24, Mortal Kombat 1

Big-name video games released in September 2023 in Europe have faced lower launch sales compared to their predecessors, according to a study by Game Sales Data (GSD).

Electronic Arts Inc.'s (NASDAQ: EA) EA Sports FC 24 experienced a 10% decline in launch sales compared to FIFA 23, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz. Even when compared to FIFA 22 from 2021, FC 24's sales were down by 3.7%.

See Also: July Game Sales Surge In Europe: 11.6M Units Sold, 10-Year-Old Grand Theft Auto 5 Dominates Charts

This drop was expected as EA's football franchise changed its name after its relationship with FIFA dissolved. Despite this, FC 24 had more than 11.3 million players globally.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.'s (NASDAQ: TTWO) NBA 2K24's first three weeks of sales were down 17% compared to NBA 2K23, while Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Starfield, though the best-selling game in the U.S., faced a 13% drop in Europe compared to Forza Horizon 5's sales in 2021.

Moreover, Warner Bros. Discovery Inc (NASDAQ: WBD) Mortal Kombat 1 saw a significant decline, with launch sales down by nearly 39% compared to Mortal Kombat 11 in Europe.

Ubisoft Entertainment SA's (OTC: UBSFF) defied the downward swing and its The Crew Motorfest experienced a 6.5% increase in launch sales compared to The Crew 2, particularly in France.

Several factors contribute to the sales decline, including the ongoing cost of living crisis affecting consumer spending and a crowded release schedule due to games delayed during COVID-19 lockdowns.

With numerous high-profile titles launching between August and November, including Baldur's Gate 3, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Starfield and Spider-Man 2, competition in the gaming market is fierce, making it challenging for individual titles to stand out.

Read Next: Microsoft's Starfield Rockets To Record-Breaking 10 Million Players In Under Three Weeks

Photo: Diego Thomazini on Shutterstock.