Electronic Arts takes console active user share lead in 2023

EA leads both Epic Games and Activision Blizzard which make up the top three publishers. Ampere said that EA’s ability to maintain its leading position on an ongoing basis across Sony and Microsoft consoles is down to a collection of factors, including its consistent output across its licence-based franchises such as FIFA 23 and the live service approach used across many of its games.

FIFA 23 is both broadly appealing and hugely sticky due to both its session-based gameplay and its Ultimate Team mode, allowing gamers to purchase player packs and build and improve their own teams over weeks and months.

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The average player across Xbox and PlayStation consoles engaged with the latest game in the franchise – FIFA 23 – 35% of the days in February, or 10 days over the month. This high engagement helps EA to deliver its consistent daily and monthly reach across console.

FIFA 23 outperformed multiplayer online game Final Fantasy XIV Online from Square Enix and Genshin Impact from Chinese company miHoYo.

Epic Games’ Fortnite remained the top performing game in February 2023 ranked by MAUs and overall the company secured second spot across its portfolio, but has been closely competing with Activision Blizzard over the last few months following the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Warzone 2.0 and Overwatch 2.

Piers Harding-Rolls, research director at Ampere Analysis said: “EA’s consistency in delivering active user share across consoles is commendable. While Fortnite remains the title to beat, EA’s extensive catalogue puts it in a strong position across Xbox and PlayStation.

“EA’s combined product strategy of offering games across broadly popular genres – sports, shooters and action adventure, adding well-known licences and a finely-honed live service approach continues to pay off.”

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