Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 ended 2023 as some of the best selling and most downloaded games. The two titles surged in recent weeks and months for different reasons. This is a very strong end to another successful year. Not only have we just learned how well they did in December, but also whereabouts they placed in the overall 2023 charts in some regions.
Despite releasing over 10 years ago, we’ve seen GTA V perform better throughout all of 2023 than in some prior years. Same can be said about Red Dead Redemption 2.
The results for December 2023 show these two from Rockstar Games beat out titles much newer games from 2023 in terms of downloads and sales depending on the region and platform.
PlayStation reveals GTA V rises ahead of the GTA VI trailer
PlayStation have released their monthly game charts for PS5, PS4, PSVR and F2P games. During December, it was the 3rd most downloaded game in December for the US and Canada. This is up quite a bit as it was in 6th place in the previous month. Meanwhile in Europe, GTA V came in 3rd place too. This is up one place from November.
Despite several big titles coming out near the end of 2023, GTA 5 gained places during December in the USA, Canada and across Europe. It was only beaten by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Madden NFL 24 and, EA Sports FC.
As for the PS4 chart, it was a similar story. After dropping a few places from October to November, the last gen version saw a rise. In Europe, the game moved up from 7th to 3rd. Across the Atlantic, the game previously came in 6th place but ended up in 4th for the US and Canada.
Red Dead Redemption 2 goes head to head with CoD again
Red Dead Redemption 2 did well in December, just like in November and October. Back in October, it was the most downloaded game of the month in the US and Canada chart. It only dropped one place in November due to the blockbuster release that is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. Another month has gone by and the classic western has maintained its runner up position for a second consecutive month.
Meanwhile across the pond it charted one place higher than recent months. It found itself in 3rd place for three months in a row but the game finally got second place this month. Red Dead 2 can only be counted in the PS4 chart as there is only a PS4 version. Downloads to PS5 consoles are included in this.
Europe buys more GTA V for at Christmas
The monthly European games charts are in for December. According to the data tracked by GSD via gamesindustry.biz, GTA V was the 5th best selling game when all disc and digital sales were combined. This is up from 6th place in November. Red Dead Redemption 2 also moved up some places, it was in 9th position but ended the year in 7th.
Overall 2023 European Charts
We also have how GTA V performed for the whole of 2023 with each month added up. GSD via Gamesindustry.biz have released the complete overall chart of games sold in the continent. This chart includes all physical and digital sales across the region.
GTA V comes in as the 5th best selling game beating out new releases such as Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Diablo 4 and more. This is one place down from last year. EA Sports FC 24, Hogwarts Legacy, FIFA 23 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 took the spots above it. However, Red Dead Redemption 2 saw growth in the chart. It was the 8th most sold game and this is up from 12th place during 2022.
UK Charts see GTA a top seller at Christmas
The monthly UK games charts are in for December. According to the data given out by GSD via gamesindustry.biz, GTA V was the 5th best selling game when all disc and digital sales were combined. This is up from tenth place.
Red Dead Redemption 2 snuck into the top 10. It reached ninth place and in November it did not make the top 10. During the same month, the game won a Steam Award more than 5 years after it released. You can learn more about its controversial victory here.
Overall 2023 UK Charts
Data company GSD via Gamesindustry.biz have released the complete overall chart of games sold in the UK for 2023. This chart includes all physical and digital sales across the region. Rockstar Games had GTA V come in as the 5th best selling game beating out new releases such as Spider-Man 2, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Diablo 4 and more. This is also the same place as in 2022. So, even though many hit new games released in 2023, GTA V did not get hurt.
Meanwhile, Red Dead Redemption 2 was the 8th most sold game in 2023. It achieved one place higher over 2022 which is impressive given it has not received new content. The game also hit a new concurrent player count on Steam recently despite releasing a few years ago.
As a standalone title on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, Grand Theft Auto Online was the 20th best selling game last year. It did not chart in 2022 so this is yet another achievement for Rockstar.
To keep up to date with every GTA Online news update, make sure to check back to RockstarINTEL and sign up to our newsletter for a weekly round-up of all things Rockstar Games.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
