Hogwarts Legacy Conquers European Gaming Market in First Half of 2023
In a fascinating revelation from GSD data, Hogwarts Legacy emerged as the reigning champion in European game sales for the first half of 2023 reports Gameindustry.biz. The game, steeped in the magic and lore of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter universe, managed to surpass the sales of its closest competitor, Elden Ring, by an impressive 69%.
The Harry Potter spin-off’s performance in the market was particularly pronounced in the United Kingdom, where its sales soared to 124% more than the UK’s second best-selling game, FIFA 23. This success was not exclusive to the UK, with Hogwarts Legacy also securing the top spot in France, Germany, and Italy.
In France, Hogwarts Legacy outperformed The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the country’s second most popular game, by a substantial 17%. Similarly, in Germany, it edged out Diablo 4, the second-best selling game, by 14%.
Despite its overwhelming popularity, Hogwarts Legacy did meet its match in Spain, where it was edged out by FIFA 23. However, this minor setback does not undermine the monumental success the game has achieved in these key European markets.
The split between physical and digital sales gives further insight into Hogwarts Legacy’s triumph. It was the best-selling digital game in the first six months of 2023, a testament to the shifting consumer preferences towards digital platforms.
Notably, the data does not include digital games from indie developers and publishers or those from Nintendo, making Hogwarts Legacy’s feat all the more impressive.
In conclusion, the unprecedented success of Hogwarts Legacy across the European gaming market in the first half of 2023 signals a major win for Warner Bros. It also demonstrates the enduring appeal of the Harry Potter franchise, translating beautifully into the gaming world. As anticipation builds for what the second half of the year will bring, Hogwarts Legacy has undoubtedly set a high bar.
European GSD H1 2023 Top 20 (Digital + Physical)
| Position | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros) |
| 2 | Diablo 4 (Activision Blizzard) |
| 3 | FIFA 23 (EA) |
| 4 | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)* |
| 5 | Grand Theft Auto 5 (Rockstar) |
| 6 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Blizzard) |
| 7 | Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar) |
| 8 | Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (EA) |
| 9 | NBA 2K23 (2K Games) |
| 10 | Resident Evil 4 (Capcom) |
| 11 | God of War Ragnarok (Sony) |
| 12 | Mario Kart 8: Deluxe (Nintendo)* |
| 13 | Dead Island 2 (Deep Silver) |
| 14 | The Last of Us: Part 2 (Sony) |
| 15 | Far Cry 6 (Ubisoft) |
| 16 | Final Fantasy 16 (Square Enix) |
| 17 | Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft) |
| 18 | Nintendo Switch Sports (Nintendo)* |
| 19 | Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (Ubisoft) |
| 20 | Grand Theft Auto Online (Rockstar) |
