Sony recently revealed the top downloaded games on the PS5 for 2024, with several live service titles making an appearance. This aligns with the company’s recent strategic focus on live service games—a move that has sparked some debate but seems to be paying off. Mat Piscatella, a respected analyst in the gaming sphere, backed up this trend by sharing data on the top-selling games across all platforms for 2024, which further supports Sony’s direction.
In his recent Bluesky post, Piscatella outlined the top 20 games in the U.S. ranked by dollar sales, spanning physical and full game digital purchases. These figures cover platforms like Nintendo eShop, PlayStation, Steam, and Xbox from December 30, 2023, through January 4, 2025. Here’s the lineup:
1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
2. EA Sports College Football 25
3. Helldivers 2
4. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
5. NBA 2K25
6. Madden NFL 25
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
8. EA Sports FC 25
9. Elden Ring
10. EA Sports MVP Bundle
11. Hogwarts Legacy
12. Dragon’s Dogma 2
13. WWE 2K24
14. MLB: The Show 24
15. Grand Theft Auto 5
16. Minecraft
17. Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth
18. Tekken 8
19. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
20. NBA 2K24
If you follow gaming sales trends, many of these titles will look familiar. Franchises like Call of Duty, NBA 2K, Grand Theft Auto 5, and EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA) are regulars on such lists. However, what’s grabbing attention this year is Helldivers 2, a PlayStation exclusive. This live service game has accomplished something unexpected by making a strong debut in third place, despite Sony’s mixed track record with similar ventures.
The list reveals a clear trend: most of the top-selling games incorporate live service elements, with eight out of the top nine titles including such features. While some fans may have reservations about Sony’s direction with this strategy, the data shows there’s a reason behind their pivot to games as a service.
