In 2025, Assassin's Creed Shadows outperforms both Mario Kart World and Elden Ring Nightreign to secure the title of Europe's best-selling game of the year. However, EA Sports FC 25 has continued to surpass these sales figures.
Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest instalment in the popular action-adventure series, has made a strong impact in the European gaming market this year. Despite surpassing formidable competitors such as Split Fiction, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Mario Kart World, it could not dethrone the long-reigning champion, EA Sports FC 25.
EA Sports FC 25, a football simulation game, was released in late 2024 and managed to maintain its popularity throughout 2025, leading it to become the best-selling game of the year in Europe. This is a testament to the enduring appeal and commercial strength of EA’s sports franchise.
The European gaming market experienced a slight sales decline in 2025, with a 6% drop in PC and console game sales overall and an increasing digital sales share (now 74%). The success of EA Sports FC 25 highlights the influence of established franchises in shaping market performance and consumer expectations for yearly game releases.
Assassin's Creed Shadows, released in March 2025, is the number-one bestselling game in Europe for 2025, as of the time of the report. However, it is important to note that EA Sports FC 25, released in September 2024, is the actual best-selling game in Europe for the year 2025.
The strong sales of Assassin's Creed Shadows and the sustained sales of EA Sports FC 25 have had a significant impact on the gaming industry. The overall sales figure for games in Europe stands at 71 million units, as of July 28, 2025.
Industry analysts predict a challenging time for AAA games in the current market, as they struggle against the rising dominance of live-service behemoths like Fortnite and Call of Duty. Grand Theft Auto 6, expected to help the stumbling games industry in 2025, has been delayed until 2026.
Despite the mixed reviews on Steam, EA Sports FC 25 continues to be a popular choice among gamers. One popular Steam review describes it as a disappointing entry in a series that seems to get worse each year. However, 43% of the reviews for EA Sports FC 25 on Steam are negative, indicating a divided opinion among players.
As we move into the second half of 2025, the gaming industry will be closely watching the performance of both EA Sports FC 25 and Assassin's Creed Shadows, as well as the anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2026.
[1] European Gaming Market Report 2025 - Q2 Update [2] GamesIndustry.biz - EA Sports FC 25 Dominates European Sales Charts in 2025 [3] IGN - Assassin's Creed Shadows Outperforms Competitors in European Sales [4] Polygon - EA Sports FC 25 Faces Mixed Reviews on Steam Despite Strong Sales
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