Best-selling video games in the U.S. in November 2024

EA Sports College Football Becomes Best-Selling US Sports Game Ever

EA Sports College Football 25 has claimed the title of the best-selling sports video game in US history in terms of dollar sales. According to the latest November 2024 report by Circana, the game has achieved monumental success, climbing into the top 50 best-selling games of all time in the US across all genres and becoming the year’s highest-grossing title.

Fueled by strategic price promotions, EA Sports College Football 25 surged into the top ten of November’s monthly charts, outpaced only by other heavyweight titles like Madden NFL 25 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The enduring popularity of the Call of Duty franchise remains evident, as Black Ops 6 continues to dominate sales following its October release. However, this year’s earlier-than-usual launch date compared to the November 2023 release of Modern Warfare 3 contributed to a 7% year-over-year decline in overall video game spending, which totaled $5.8 billion in November.

Notable New Entries and Spending Trends

November’s gaming market saw notable new releases, including Mario & Luigi: Brothership debuting at No. 7, despite digital sales being excluded due to Nintendo’s data-sharing policies. Other new entries included the HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest 3 at No. 12 and My Sims: Cozy Bundle at No. 19. Meanwhile, spending on video game content—spanning software and subscriptions—saw a significant 9% decline, dropping to $4.5 billion. Console content bore the brunt of this decrease, plummeting by 29% compared to November 2023.

Hardware Sales: A Mixed Performance

On the hardware front, spending remained stable at $927 million. A 15% growth in PlayStation 5 sales helped offset declines of 29% for Xbox and 3% for Nintendo Switch. The newly launched PS5 Pro accounted for 19% of Sony’s units sold and boasted dollar sales 50% higher than the PS4 Pro’s launch in 2016. However, unit sales were 12% lower, reflecting a shift toward higher price points. Overall, November 2024 saw 2.4 million consoles sold, a modest 4% year-over-year increase. Yet, year-to-date console sales lag behind 2023 figures, with 9.4 million units sold compared to last year’s 11.8 million.

November’s Top Performers

The top three best-selling games in November were Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Madden NFL 25, and EA Sports FC 25. Meanwhile, EA Sports College Football 25 secured the No. 4 spot, with Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero rounding out the top five. These titles highlight the continued dominance of legacy franchises alongside fresh successes in the sports and action genres.

As the holiday season approaches, the industry braces for further shifts, with anticipated releases and promotions likely to redefine the charts in December. Despite a dip in spending, key franchises and innovative entries continue to energize the market.