European Gaming Revenue 2024: 90% Digital Purchases, PC at Just 15%

90% of European Gaming Revenue in 2024 Came From Digital Purchases, but PC Only Accounted for 15%

The way people buy and play video games in Europe has changed dramatically in the past few years. A new industry report confirms what many gamers already knew: physical game sales are quickly becoming a thing of the past, while digital purchases now dominate the market. But what may surprise some is just how little of that revenue is coming from PC gaming compared to consoles and especially mobile.

Digital Purchases Now Represent the Future of Gaming

According to the 2024 All About Video Games report, published by Video Games Europe, a staggering 90% of all gaming revenue in Europe last year came from digital purchases. That figure is up 5% from 2023, marking a steady shift away from discs and cartridges. In contrast, physical purchases now account for just 10% of the market.

To put that in perspective, physical sales made up 20% of European gaming revenue in 2020. That share has been cut in half in just four years. The most significant drop came between 2023 and 2024, when physical sales slid another 5%.

The reasons behind this decline aren’t entirely clear. Part of it could be that gamers simply prefer the convenience of digital downloads, especially with faster internet and larger console storage. Another factor may be that fewer publishers are even releasing physical editions of games, forcing players to go digital whether they want to or not.

Mobile Gaming Leads the Market

When breaking down the numbers by platform, the report shows that mobile gaming dominates the European market, pulling in 44% of total revenue. Consoles followed close behind at 38%, while PC gaming trailed at just 15%. The final 4% came from streaming and on-demand gaming services.

This might come as a surprise to some, since PC gaming has a strong reputation in Europe thanks to its rich modding scene, competitive esports, and massive Steam library. Yet when it comes to actual spending, PC users represent a smaller slice of the pie.

The Curious Case of PC and Console Trends

One of the more interesting findings from the report is how usage and revenue don’t always align.

• PC Gaming: The number of people playing games on PC actually went down in 2024, dropping from 46% of gamers in 2023 to 43% in 2024. Yet PC gaming revenue still rose slightly, climbing by 1% year-over-year. This suggests that while fewer Europeans are gaming on PC, those who remain are spending more money per person.

• Console Gaming: On the other hand, console popularity went up, with 3% more Europeans reporting that they play on consoles compared to 2023. But console revenue went in the opposite direction, dipping by 3%. One possible explanation is that many players are enjoying free-to-play titles or discounted digital games, which bring in less revenue than big blockbuster launches.

This contrast creates a strange picture: PC gaming is earning more from fewer players, while console gaming is making less despite attracting more players.

Physical Game Sales Continue to Decline

The dip in console revenue may also help explain why physical game sales continue to collapse. Traditionally, consoles have been the strongest market for physical releases, with collectors and fans preferring to own discs or cartridges. But with more console users shifting toward digital storefronts, physical games are becoming harder to justify for both players and publishers.

The 2024 numbers make it clear: physical games aren’t just declining, they’re quickly becoming obsolete. Unless there’s a major shift, digital will soon account for nearly all sales across every platform in Europe.

Top-Selling Games in Europe, 2024

The All About Video Games report didn’t just focus on revenue trends. It also revealed the top 10 best-selling games in Europe last year, which include a mix of brand-new releases and long-standing favorites:

1. Helldivers 2

2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

3. Command and Conquer Generals

4. Grand Theft Auto V

5. EA FC 25

6. The Crew 2

7. Red Dead Redemption 2

8. Hogwarts Legacy

9. EA FC 24

10. Command and Conquer (Bundle)

The fact that older titles like GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 are still in the top 10 shows how long-lasting certain franchises can be. Meanwhile, new releases like Helldivers 2 and Black Ops 6 confirm the continued demand for major AAA shooters.

What This Means for the Future of Gaming

The 2024 report paints a clear picture: digital gaming is the present and future of Europe’s gaming industry. Mobile continues to be the biggest driver of growth, while consoles remain strong but face a dip in overall revenue. PC gaming, while smaller in market share, is still holding steady and even showing resilience despite a shrinking player base.

Physical game sales, meanwhile, are on life support. With fewer physical releases and fewer people buying them, it wouldn’t be surprising if physical purchases drop into single-digit percentages in just a few years.

For gamers, this shift means convenience and faster access to new releases. For publishers, it means lower distribution costs and higher margins. The trade-off, of course, is the loss of game ownership in a traditional sense—something that may continue to spark debate as the industry goes fully digital.