As we know, digital sales are becoming more and more important in the world of video games. We recently learned that, in the UK, roughly 80 per cent of the total consumer spend in 2018 was on digital games, which is a huge figure. With this in mind, Sony has just unveiled 2018's most downloaded games for the North American and European PlayStation Stores, and you can probably guess which ones are at the top.
In the US, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 was the best selling PS4 game on the digital storefront last year, followed by the mighty Red Dead Redemption 2 and Marvel's Spider-Man. Treyarch's multiplayer-only FPS came second in Europe, where FIFA 19 scored the number one spot. The remainders of each top 10 are relatively similar, with the likes of God of War, Far Cry 5, and Grand Theft Auto V showing up in both.
As for PSVR, Beat Saber saw the most success, coming first in Europe and second in North America, where Job Simulator was the best selling virtual reality title. Astro Bot Rescue Mission was sixth in Europe, but didn't even place in the US top 10. And when it comes to free-to-play and DLC, no one should be surprised to learn that Fortnite dominated these charts.
Be sure to check out the full rundown for North America and Europe by following the respective links. Which games did you purchase digitally in 2018? Wave goodbye to the high street in the comments below.
[source blog.eu.playstation.com, via blog.us.playstation.com]
Comments 34
My most hated games in the top 3.
I am surprised to see CoD at the top since I haven't heard much about it, but then again I don't move around in those circles, those YouTube and Twitch channels.
I bought too many games last year, period, especially digital ones. It's funny, I have a friend who only buys 2 games maximum every year but then plays those things to bits, like Destiny and WoW for example. And I'm like 'here's the 30 games I bought this year...'.
Im gonna have to have a talk with gamers here in the States about that AstroBot nonsense. I want a sequel to that game and if my fellow yanks ruin that Im gonna be a saaaad š¼
@Flaming_Kaiser And I'm sure if your most liked game was liked by everybody else, you'd start to hate it just so you look cool on the block.
@Flaming_Kaiser
Hold up.... Spider Man is your most hated game?!?!
Wow HZD is at 12. Sold better than some big games that came out 2018. Gigantic success for HZD. Also GT Sport in the top 20.
EDIT: Typed 11 instead 12
Are PS+ games counted? I would think a good PS+ game like GoW3 would be downloaded a lot. Wish they'd put the actual numbers up, how does Fortnite compare to CoD?
I am surprised to see Spiderman above GoW. GoW did really well at release, then went on sale for $20 in November. Spiderman just came out near the end. Oh well, hard trying to figure out only half the equation - either digital sales or physical sales only. Maybe soon they'll combine the two.
Edit: The fact that GTAV is still at #5 after all these years is nuts. And since it never got a Pro patch they can boost it to 4k on PS5 to sell it again. Or finally make 6. Or both.
Casuals and those addicted to loot box gaming.
Iāve seen so many stories lately regarding FIFA and guys saying that spend over a 1000 a year but never get what they want......smh.
Mostly download titles only like Deracine , Hollow knight , Snk games, Ps2 games and so forth and a few big titles but none of the above as prefer to have them on disc.
Honestly not surprised these games are the top 3.
@TheArt Preach!
job simulator nr. 1 for vr is surprising
@Nyne11Tyme Iām with you there. Maybe the price was too steep for some but Astrobot is amazing.
@Nyne11Tyme actually after reviewing the US top PSVR downloads, our fellow āMericans really need an education in good VR gamesš Superhot derserves to be there, but Surgeon Simulator? Rick and Morty? Driveclub? Arizona Sunshine? Those wouldnāt crack my top 25.
@Bonbonetti I used to be that way but my life has gotten really busy. I think I bought 5 games last year. 4 single player ones and battlefield which is my go to for winding down.
@manu0 Probably it is a good excuse to play job simulator on benefits and not looking for a real job. Lol.
Never had any desire to try a game with that title after work or on my day off.
@TheArt I personally think Spider-Man is the most overrated game of this console generation, but I am kind of surprised that CoD was number 1. I know it has a huge fan base, obviously, but I honestly thought GoW would be the top spot.
@Nerdfather1 Yea it also surprises me people bought Spiderman more than God of War, I think quite a number of people just don't care about Kratos as a character. I personally wasn't even looking forward to GOW in early 2018, I only just purchased it recently and it's artistically beautiful. But in the end, I think people aren't really too interested in the angry god concept maybe, they are familiar with Spidey more I guess.
@Flaming_Kaiser you flaming liar š šš.haha.word up son
This is false and used to push Digital sales. When you take out microtransactions, DLC, subscription services, pay-to-play it a total different picture. So why compare AAA retail games to the whole of the gaming industry?
"The biggest-selling console game of 2018, FIFA 19, sold 2.5m units, according to the ERA, with 75 per cent coming from physical formats."
Digital format is great for indies and add-on's. But when it comes to AAA games I and most others prefer Retail hard copies.
I buy physical copies and so mine wouldn't be part of this list.
@TheArt why do you say he's trying to look cool for not liking the most popular games? Can't you leave that nonsense in the playground? Who talks about any video game to look "cool" for that matter? Games are for nerds innit.
My two takeaways:
1. It's cool to see Monster Hunter World crack the North American top 10, very deserving.
2. Call of Duty Black Ops IIII is a huge seller, as expected, yet shareholders are still disappointed with its performace. Not really sure what that says but it's always a worrying sign to me when even big AAA games selling extremely well disappoints.
CoD and FIFA in the Euro top spots, I think gamers would be surprised if they WEREN'T in the top 5 year on year. Pretty standard fare holding zero surprises...
@kyleforrester87 What are you? His father...nonsense.
@TheArt yep that's right I'm his dad, bingo. I introduced him to this forum so we could spend more time together.
@kyleforrester87
That's so beautiful, just like Kratos and Atreus. Every forum that got in their way, destroyed with righteous fury. And back in time for fajitas.
@LieutenantFatman well now you just ruined the end of the game for me
@kyleforrester87
Oh no, no one likes a ruined fajita. Sad Kratos.
...big mainstream triple-A video games such as FIFA, physical is still very much the driving force behind unit sales"
From that exact same report you are sourcing.
So if AAA sales are still mostly physical and those AAA still make up the top 10 downloads (as shown above). More copies of all those games were sold at retail.
so leading with 80 per cent of the total consumer spend in 2018 was on digital games makes little sense seeing how that list shows different.
To the top comment that hates everything... WOW
Beat Saber is the most fun I've had in a long while on my VR.
@TheArt @Nerdfather1 I think it is less of being anti-Kratos and more about being pro-Spidey.
The Spider-Man movies are some of the best selling in history. He is one of the most popular super heroes and he is known from comic books to TV shows to movies and games meaning you ask anyone anywhere and they likely know who Spider-Man is.
Kratos on the other hand is a niche character only known in the gaming world. So the appeal of one will mean more sales.
Also, popularity has never gone hand in hand with quality. People assume that because a song is number one then it is āthe best songā. When in reality it is mainly teenagers who are buying singles and shaping the charts with a limited opinion base (if that makes sense).
The same happens for everything from games to books to movies to food and even politics. Best is not always most popular.
@TheArt Sony should try a cross-over, with Kratos roaming in New York wearing some spandex. I feel it could work...
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