Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut has taken the gaming world by storm once again, claiming the top spot on the May 2024 bestseller charts, four years after its initial launch in 2020. This unexpected resurgence on PC has surprised many, especially since May didn’t see many big triple-A game releases. The industry-tracking firm Circana reported that the total spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories in the U.S. fell by 6% in May compared to the previous year.
According to Mat Piscatella, Circana’s executive producer for games reports, the decline in video game hardware sales was particularly significant, dropping by 40% in May and 30% year-to-date. This downward trend is affecting all current generation hardware platforms, with the Switch showing the most significant decrease. Piscatella speculated that the lackluster performance in May 2024 could be attributed to the strong launch of Tears of the Kingdom in the same month last year.
Despite the decline in hardware sales, video game content and accessories showed positive growth compared to the previous year. The year-to-date chart indicated a 2% increase in total spending in 2024 compared to 2023. Ghost of Tsushima’s return to the top of the charts has been a standout moment this month, overshadowing other titles like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake, which also performed well but lacks digital sales data from Nintendo.
While Ghost of Tsushima’s success is clear, other games that were popular earlier in the year have started to slide down the charts. However, titles like Elden Ring, Fallout 4, and Sea of Thieves have managed to maintain their positions, showcasing the enduring appeal of these games. The May charts also saw the introduction of new games like Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door remake, Homeworld 3, and F1 24, although they were overshadowed by the dominance of Ghost of Tsushima.
Interestingly, some major triple-A releases like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 and Endless Ocean Luminous did not make it to the top of the charts, despite strong engagement levels on platforms like Xbox and PlayStation. The free-to-play nature of games like Ubisoft’s XDefiant may have influenced their absence from the charts. Despite the absence of certain high-profile titles, the gaming industry continues to see a diverse range of games capturing the attention of players.
Overall, the gaming landscape in May 2024 reflects a mix of established titles maintaining their popularity, unexpected comebacks like Ghost of Tsushima, and the ongoing shift in player preferences towards different genres and platforms. As the year progresses, it will be interesting to see how new releases and updates impact the gaming charts and consumer spending patterns.
