Triple-A sales dive on the eve of next-gen

The imminent launch of PS4 and Xbox One is significantly hurting sales of current gen games, retail experts have told MCV.

Last week Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag sold 60 per cent fewer units than last year’s title, while Battlefield 4 sales are 69 per cent down over Battlefield 3.

It follows a drop in launch week sales of FIFA 14, which was down 24 per cent year-on-year.

Publishers and retailers tell MCV that these declines are primarily due to the launch of PS4 and Xbox One, with customers holding off buying games as they await the new machines.

All three of the aforementioned titles are also launch games for both next-gen consoles.

It’s difficult to know how many people will buy current-generation or will wait,” said Activision’s UK managing director Roy Stackhouse ahead of the launch of Call of Duty: Ghosts. There probably is a slight amount of nervousness and hesitation in the marketplace with next-gen just around the corner.”

Robert Lindsay of games chain Games Centre added: There’s been a natural decline in current-gen software sales throughout the year which would have continued regardless of new consoles but there’s no denying that PS4 and Xbox One is having an even bigger impact.

But our next-gen software pre-orders are strong, adding them to current-generations sales would make up most of the deficit.”