DS and Wii Lead increase in US game industry sales
According to the NPD Group’s sales data released today, US videogame industry sales in July 2007 increased 37 per cent year-over-year. Total industry sales were pegged at USD 925.5 million, with year-to-date sales reaching the USD 7 billion mark. Hardware sales in particular rose 77.4 per cent to USD 380.8 million, with USD 286 million represented by consoles and the remainder representing portables.
Nintendo’s Wii was the best-selling hardware, with 425,000 units sold while its portable sibling the DS handheld sold 405,000 units. Contrary to some analyst predictions, the PlayStation 3 did not outsell the Xbox 360 for the month. Sony sold 159,000 consoles, just behind the 170,000 Xbox 360 consoles sold by Microsoft. July marks the first month that the USD 100 price cut would have been reflected in the PS3 sales data.
The impact of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 price cut, which took effect in August, will not be reflected until next month’s sales figures. Sony’s other hardware is still selling well, with 222,000 PS2 consoles and 214,000 PSP handhelds sold. According to NPD Group data, the top-selling game in the US for the month of July was NCAA Football ‘08 for the Xbox 360. Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80s (PS2), Wii Play, NCAA Football ‘08 (PS2), and Mario Party 8 (Wii) round out the top five. The other best-selling titles include NCAA Football ‘08 (PS3), Pokemon Diamond (DS), Transformers: The Game (PS2), Guitar Hero II (PS2), and Guitar Hero II (360).
source: US videogame market up 37 per cent in July
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