According to Circana, total U.S. spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories is expected to drop 6% in May 2024 compared to the same period last year, to $4 billion. Content spending fell 3% in May 2024, as a 13% increase in mobile content spending was unable to offset a 40% decline in console content spending.
The console’s decline in spending on hardware, content and accessories was largely attributed to a strong launch The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom same time last year.
Video game hardware spending in May fell 40% from the same period last year to US$202 million, down 30% year-to-date. As of May, all current-generation hardware platforms will experience double-digit annual declines in 2024, with Switch experiencing the most significant decline. PlayStation 5 leads the hardware market in sales and sales this month. The Nintendo Switch once again ranks second in sales, while the Xbox Series ranks second in dollar sales.
Accessories spending in May fell 8% from the same period last year to US$148 million. Spending on headsets and headsets increased 10% in May compared with the same period last year, but this was offset by a 12% decline in spending on gaming controllers. PlayStation Portal was the best-selling accessory in terms of dollar sales in May 2024 and 2024 to date.
ghost of tsushima Driven by the game’s release on Steam, the game was the best-selling game in May 2024 by tracking dollar sales. ghost of tsushima Total consumer spending on physical and digital game sales is slightly higher than physical game sales Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.
Top 10 Games of May 2024
- ghost of tsushima (Sony Corporation)
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) (Activision Blizzard)
- Helldiver II (Sony Corporation)
- MLB: Show 24 (Multiple manufacturers)
- sea of thieves (Microsoft Corporation)
- my world (Multiple manufacturers)
- ring of fire (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
- Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros. Games)
- Star Blade (Sony Corporation)
When it comes to mobile content, Sensor Tower reports the top 10 games by U.S. consumer spending in May: “Monopoly Go!”, “Royal Clash”, “Roblox”, “Candy Crush”, “Last Wars: Survival”, “Coin Master”, “Whiteout Survival”, “Town”, “Brawl Stars” , and Jackpot Party – Casino Slots.
“Although relatively stable month over month, U.S. mobile gaming consumer spending increased significantly (+13%) in May 2024 compared to May 2023,” said Samuel Aune of Sensor Tower. “The biggest winners this month were Brawl StarsU.S. consumer spending increased 35% from the previous quarter, ranking ninth. Brawl Stars has been soaring since last year, (readers may recall Brawl Stars U.S. consumer spending increased 41% last month), and May 2024 was the best month for U.S. consumer spending since its launch in December 2018.
