Elden Ring, the highly anticipated action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, has once again taken the top spot on the sales charts, two years after its initial release. This achievement is attributed to the launch of its massive expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, on June 21, which injected new life into the game and heightened its popularity among gamers.
However, while Elden Ring experienced a surge in sales, the overall sales charts for video games did not see a similar second wind. In fact, sales of all other titles were down from June 2023. According to Mat Piscatella, the executive producer for games reports at industry-tracking firm Circana, projected spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories in the U.S. totaled $4.6 billion in June 2024, experiencing a 5% decline compared to the previous year. Overall content spending dropped 2% in June, amounting to $4.1 billion.
One notable trend in 2024 is the decline in hardware sales, which experienced a significant drop of 37%. However, the PlayStation 5 continued to dominate the hardware market in terms of unit and dollar sales, with the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series following closely behind. Despite this decline, Elden Ring has managed to maintain its position on the best-seller list consistently, and its recent climb back up the ranks can be attributed to the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
In terms of the top-selling games in the U.S. for June 2024, Elden Ring secured the first spot on Circana’s monthly charts, followed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) and Kingdom Hearts: Integrum Masterpiece. It’s worth mentioning that the list included two “new” games for June: the Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD remaster and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, which are expanded re-releases. While June didn’t witness many new game releases, expansions and remasters played a significant role in boosting the sales of titles like Kingdom Hearts and The Elder Scrolls Online.
Speaking of expansions and re-releases, Kingdom Hearts: Integrum Masterpiece saw a considerable leap in sales after its release on Steam in June. The Elder Scrolls Online also experienced a boost in sales with the launch of the Gold Road DLC, which reintroduced familiar locations from the fourth game, Oblivion. Another game that witnessed a significant jump in sales was Street Fighter 6, thanks to the launch of fan-favorite characters and favorable sale prices offered by Capcom.
Looking at the year-to-date sales figures, Elden Ring’s position on the list has improved from 20th to 15th place, thanks to the success of its expansion. However, Helldivers II still holds the top spot for 2024 so far, followed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. It’s important to note that this ranking may change as more franchises, including Call of Duty, release new titles later in the year.
Overall, Elden Ring’s resurgence in the sales charts demonstrates the lasting impact and appeal of well-crafted expansions and the continued support of dedicated gamers. As the gaming industry evolves, developers and publishers can leverage expansions and remasters to breathe new life into existing titles and captivate audiences once again.
