Sony has unveiled the top PS5 downloads of 2024, revealing a strong presence of live service games. Despite some initial skepticism about PlayStation’s shift in strategy, the move seems to be paying off. Games industry expert Mat Piscatella has shared further insight with a list of 2024’s best-selling games across all platforms, reinforcing this trend.
When it comes to PlayStation’s ventures into live service gaming, Helldivers 2 has made a significant impact, standing out as the third best-selling game of 2024. Piscatella’s chart, posted on Bluesky, highlights the top 20 games in the U.S. based on dollar sales. It considers both physical copies and digital sales from major platforms like Nintendo eShop, PlayStation, Steam, and Xbox, spanning from late December 2023 to early January 2025. Here’s how the ranking pans out:
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
For those who’ve been following sales data throughout the year, most titles are unsurprisingly familiar. Franchises like Call of Duty, NBA 2K, Grand Theft Auto 5, and EA Sports FC are perennial top sellers. Yet, the appearance of Helldivers 2 from PlayStation’s live service line was not expected, especially considering past challenges in this area. Nevertheless, Arrowhead’s sequel has started strong.
In essence, the list prominently features games with live service components. Out of the top nine best-sellers of 2024, eight incorporate such features. While some fans may question Sony’s strategic pivot towards live service games, this data illustrates why the company has committed itself to this model.
