Projected U.S. total spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories gained 4% in March 2024 when compared to a year ago, reaching $4.9 billion. Mobile content spending grew 15% compared to March 2023, which more than offset a 32% drop in video game hardware spending. Mobile accounted for 89% of the total year-on-year growth in video game content spending during the month.
March video game hardware spending fell 32% when compared to a year ago, to $391 million. All current console hardware platforms fell a minimum of 30% year-on-year. Hardware spending finished the first quarter down 24% versus the first quarter of 2023.
PlayStation 5 led the hardware market in unit and dollar sales during both March and the first quarter. Nintendo Switch once again finished second in unit sales, while Xbox Series ranked second in dollars across both time periods.
March spending on Accessories increased 9% when compared to a year ago to $242 million, helped by 8% growth in headset/headphone spending. The PlayStation Dual Sense Edge was the best-selling accessory in dollar sales during both March and the first quarter.
Dragon’s Dogma II debuted as the best-selling premium game of March and the third best-selling game of 2024 year-to- date. Launch month dollar sales of Dragon’s Dogma II were more than 11 times those of the original Dragon’s Dogma, initially released in the U.S. market in the May 2012 tracking period. With just one month in market, Dragon’s Dogma II has already surpassed the life-to-date dollar sales of Dragon’s Dogma and Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen combined.
Helldivers II remains the best-selling premium game of 2024 year-to-date after placing second in March. Helldivers II currently ranks seventh in lifetime U.S. dollar sales for Sony published titles after just two months in market.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth remained the fourth best-selling game of 2024 year-to-date, despite falling five spots in the monthly rankings to seventh in March, after placing second in February. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth currently ranks 14th across all Final Fantasy releases in lifetime dollar sales in the U.S. market. Final Fantasy XV is first, followed by Final Fantasy VII: Remake and the original Final Fantasy VII.
TOP 10 GAMES FOR MARCH 2024
- Dragon’s Dogma II (Capcom USA)
- Helldivers II (Sony Corp.)
- MLB: The Show 24 (multiple manufacturers)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) (Activision Blizzard Corp.)
- Rise of the Ronin (Sony Corp.)
- Princess Peach: Showtime! (Nintendo)
- Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (Square Enix Corp.)
- Unicorn Overlord (Sega)
- WWE 2K24 (Take 2 Interactive Corp.)
- Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros. Games)
In Mobile content, Sensor Tower reports the top 10 games by U.S. consumer spending in March as Monopoly Go!, Royal Match, Roblox, Candy Crush Saga, Coin Master, Whiteout Survival, Last War: Survival, Pokémon Go, Township, and Clash of Clans.
“The highlight this month is Last War: Survival, which grew 40% to overtake Pokémon GO, Township, and Clash of Clans,” says Samuel Aune of Sensor Tower. “If this rate of growth keeps up, Last War: Survival could overtake Whiteout Survival and even Coin Master in the next few months. Also of note is the fact that three of the top 10 (including No. 1) are 2023 launches. The top four games remain unchanged and continue to maintain a significant gap from the rest of the field, with Monopoly Go! still holding a commanding lead over second place Royal Match.”
