Xbox Series X|S Now UK's Second Best-Selling Consoles In 2024 As Nintendo Switch Falls Away

2nd in console sales for 2024 I would call that a win for xbox

It’s positive news but against an 8 year old console, it’s not mind blowing but with Xbox right now, I will happily take any win!

Well, it's an almost 8 year old system that everyone and their grandmother has likely already purchased and chomping at the heels of the best selling console of all time, the PS2, making it a huge selling success sooo. Not really something for Xbox to shout about when the Switch is slowing down and about to say goodnight and usher in a new Switch successor before long.

UK is probably the only really good buyer for XBOX consoles In Europe.
We seem to like Xbox over here in the UK.

But we are also the second or first country that buy multiple consoles per owner or household.
I think USA is first there.

Adding the fact Xbox advertising budget must be Zero in the UK and Europe, that’s not to be bad sales wise.

Agreed, @OldGamer999, and all of that is what irks me so much when Microsoft keep giving freebies to those in the US, and not the UK. Everyone that invests in an Xbox deserves to be rewarded equally, not selecting one region and prioritising them over another, which frequently happens in the case of the US...

To be fair that’s positive.

But what are % like? Is it just because Nintendo have had a bigger drop? Have Xbox improved?

And most importantly we haven’t finished the year?!

Christmas is the most important period!!!

Whilst I don't think MS can or would compete with Playstation, just because of their Play Anywhere (inc PC and all the Cloud enabled options) means that many may not 'need' to buy an Xbox Console.

That being said, I can see the Xbox being more 'popular' than it was a few years ago as the fruits of their Zenimax and ABK deals come to Xbox/Game Pass. Yes games like CoD, Doom and even Indiana Jones may also release on Playstation at some point, they are ALL available on Game Pass Day 1 and all the marketing etc will be Xbox based.

The home of 'CoD' has been advertised as being Playstation for nearly a Decade, some may not even remember or been around during the 360 era when CoD was associated with Xbox and sold Xbox Consoles because of CoD despite 'free' online and the game available on PS5 - the only benefit on Xbox was for the 'optional' DLC packs which released 1 month early on Xbox.

Looking ahead, we have games like CoD, Stalker 2, Flight Sim and Indiana Jones in the next few months before Christmas - only 1 of which is also on PS5 this year. That may well help boost Xbox sales before Christmas - the only console with Indiana Jones and Stalker 2 this year...

Im sorry, I just can’t find the positives about this when the only reason the console is in second place is due to the lead format having a drop due to its age, saturation point and an inevitable hold back before the Switch 2 arrives and crushes sales all over again. If it was on its own merits I would have been happy, but year on year sales for the Xbox consoles are down aswell.. Oh man, it’s getting painful now.

Given how much the Switch has sold so far and for how long it's been selling, I'd say it's about time that happened. It just won't last, I imagine, since all three are dropping numbers YOY and the "Switch 2" will launch next year, Xbox will be back in #3 rather soon

@OldGamer999 that's why I laugh when Sataya Nadella complains about abandoning mobile. They never learn. All there consumer products fail as they never advertise. Zune, Windows Phone, Windows VR & now Xbox. Most were descent products but the lack of advertising compared to there competitors sank them all.

@Fiendish-Beaver
I have sort of said for a while.
Xbox only knows how to advertise in the USA and also to USA advertising tastes.

As where Sony and Nintendo from Japan, know how to advertise to both Japan, USA and European tastes and culture.

@cragis0001
Yes there are very strange company at times with products.
But then again, they are worth trillions and probably don’t have to work at much to hard.

Precisely, @OldGamer999. I think Microsoft are working on the basis that great games will sell the Xbox consoles. Problem is, the games have not been good enough to achieve that, and thus with underperforming games, and no advertising (outside the US at least, and I cannot really speak for there) then you end up with lacklustre consoles sales. Then, add into the mix the likes of Sony prominently advertising the PS5 (and Pro) is it any wonder that Xbox console sales are in the dust by comparison...?

@OldGamer999 they are indeed & with all the products they've produced over the years an advertising team firing on full cylinders would pay for themselves & give them more. As a lot of products were better than the competition. But then Microsoft never really recovered after there antitrust case plus other legal fights in the US & EU in the 80/90's

@Fiendish-Beaver
I think a lack of stellar AAA big scoring games are part of it.
And of course the lack of PR.
But I don’t think they can recover in Europe or UK, so games on other devices and consoles, seems the most logical way forward for them.
Now if the games are really good they will sell, if not then the games won’t and they will have another issue, games not selling.

Xbox struggling to outsell an 8 year old console is not good news. The Xbox Series won't even make it to year 8. Even the most loyal Xbox fans are calling for them to punt on the generation and release a new console after only 6 years.

@InvaderFromSpace unless it’s a handheld I don’t see that strategy working either.

There’s no sign of EA stopping yearly sports games on the last gen, SEGA say they want to keep sonic on the older gen. Hell I even saw (albeit olbscure) game saying it was releasing on ps4 in 26!

@BAMozzy nobody is gonna buy an xbox for stalker and flight sim though

do they have figure included? is it switch at 15 units, xbox at 16? or are we talking 15 million vs 16 million? Tbh xbox series console also outsold the PS4 so we could celebrate that too?

I think you are exaggerating, @Medic_alert. It won't be 18 months, it'll be fewer than 12...

I entirely agree, @OldGamer999. And that is exactly what Spencer was talking about when he said Xbox could release a game that scored 11/10 and it still could not close the gap now. He got shouted down, as he always does, but it's simply a fact. In terms of consoles, Microsoft can do nothing now short of releasing a high-end PC costing £2000 to make, and selling it for £200. That might move the dial...!

I agree that in terms of revenue, and to placate the moneymen, selling all first-party games on the PlayStation is the way to go. In terms of consoles, it will sound the death-knell. I would prefer that Microsoft remains in the console business because of a number of factors including competition, their superior controller, and the fact that I believe they are more consumer friendly than Sony (who are simply mercenary). I also have an extensive digital library currently standing at 1412 games, and that does not include either Game Pass games or those I have on disc (which again tops 200). Ultimately, I think an awful lot of people are going to abandon Xbox after this generation. They will have to bring out something truly special in 2026 to retain the interest they have, let alone attract new interest in the Xbox...

@Fiendish-Beaver
Totally agree about the series X console.
Better form factor
Quick resume is great
Better controller for me
Xbox more customer oriented.

It’s such a shame, as we can already see Sony taking a bullish approach now as the PS5 sells more and more consoles.
And if Xbox leave the console market or their sales get even lower, Sony will be more bullish.

@Fiendish-Beaver
It’s the same with Sony and their top TVs.
They charge a bit more and only have 2 HDMI2:1 ports, what a pain.
But I have had an LGC3, Samsung S90C and now Sony X95L all 65”.
And the upscaling and especially the motion control Sony TV comes out top in my experience.
And that’s why Sony get like they do, they know they have the best of something.

I mean, the Switch successor is right around the corner, which is when console sales often start dropping.

@Medic_alert it’s probably going to be released in around 6 months and many rumours suggest Nintendo already have a load made and ready to go, so I expect Nintendo to surge into the number one spot straight out of the gate. It just remains to be seen how long they stay there.

@Medic_alert ahh, gotcha. Makes sense.

@OldGamer999
To be honest, Xbox doesn’t even market or advertise in the USA either.

Sony and Nintendo are killing it in the US on marketing. It’s extremely rare to see any adverts for anything Xbox here.

@themightyant
Xbox must love Manchester 😊
However I did see a COD advert on UK standard TV last night.
Was very quick just COD, no mention of Xbox or game pass though. Was only a good few seconds long.

@Shalooda Maybe - maybe not!

There could be 'someone' that buys an Xbox for either of those games - although I think Stalker 2 may well sell a few if the game reviews well.

However, its not buying a console 'just' for Flight Sim OR Stalker, but the fact that those as well as CoD and Indy will all be on Xbox and Game Pass will likely sell some Consoles this Christmas as its still the 'cheapest' and ONLY hardware those games will playable on natively.

1 game alone is unlikely to encourage buyers - who'd spend $500+ whatever Subscription and/or buy the one game they want to play - especially if they own a Playstation 5 or PC already. PS5 may not get 'Flight Sim' but Stalker and Indy will come eventually and CoD is on PS5 too - but all 4 will be on Xbox this Christmas and if gamers want to play them this year, they'll either need a PC or Xbox Console so it 'will' sell - even if not 'just' for Flight Sim or Stalker....