Europeans Spent $80B on 120M Gaming Consoles Since 2020, More Than the U.S. and Asia Combined

Since 2020, the world has spent over $137 billion on gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox, and most of that value, or roughly 60%, is from Europe. For years, Europeans have been the biggest spenders in the global console market, shelling out tens of billions more than their American and Asian counterparts, and that`s not because they have more gamers. Europeans pay far higher prices, and five-year figures reveal a shocking gap.

According to data presented by Skinsluck.com, Europeans have spent around $80 billion on 120 million gaming consoles since 2020, more than the United States and Asia combined.

Europe`s Average Cost Per Unit is 75% Higher than in the U.S.

Thanks to a mix of higher retail prices, taxes, and regional pricing strategies, Europeans pay far more for gaming consoles than Americans or Asians, and this isn`t something new. For years, being a console gamer in Europe has cost more than elsewhere, with players paying more for both hardware and software. For example, Europeans often pay over $20 more for new AAA games than Americans, and console prices follow this trend. While launch prices are usually similar across regions, value-added tax (VAT) of 20% or more, occasional tariffs, and exchange rate effects push European prices much higher, and Statista data shows just how big the gap is.

Since 2020, when Covid-19 fueled a surge in gaming demand, Europeans have spent $79.9 billion on 119.4 million gaming consoles, more than any other country or region, including the world`s largest gaming market, the United States. While Americans bought a similar number of consoles, 118.8 million, they spent 45% less money, or $45 billion. Asia trailed even more behind, with $31.5 billion spent on 86.2 million consoles in the same period.

This gap becomes even more striking when looking at the average cost per unit. According to Statista data, in Europe, the average cost per unit is $667, or 75% higher than in the United States. Statistics show Americans paid an average $381 per unit since 2020, and Asians even less, or $366.

By 2030, Europeans Will Pay More for Fewer Consoles Than Americans

Unfortunately for console gaming fans in Europe, the outlook doesn`t look promising. In fact, this price gap is only expected to widen in the following years. Statista forecasts show that between 2026 and 2030, Europeans will buy around 107 million consoles at a total cost of $45.7 billion. In contrast, Americans are expected to purchase 3 million more consoles while spending nearly $1 billion less over the same period. Also, Statista expects the average console price in Europe to hit $435 by 2030, up from $415 this year, compared to $411 in the United States, $408 in Asia, and a global average of $420.