May Video Game Sales Off 5%; Hardware Down, Software Up

U.S. video game industry sales were down 5% in May to $823.5 million, from $865.7 million in the same month last year, according to new data from NPD Group. Sales were up from the $766.2 million reported in April, a month in which overall sales were down 26%.

Hardware sales in the month were down 20%, to $241.5 million, from $303 million, due to a combination of lower sales unit sales for handhelds, flat units for consoles and lower prices. But software sales were actually up 4%, to $466.3 million from $450.4 million, while accessories were up 3%, to $115.7 million, from $112.3 million.

NPD analyst Anita Frazier noted that this was actually the industry’s third best May ever – after the last two.

Among the console platforms:

• The Sony PlayStation 3 sold 154,500 units, down from 180,000 in April, but up from 131,000 a year ago.
• The Microsoft Xbox 360 sold 194,600 units, up from 185,400 in April, and 175,000 a year ago.
• The Nintendo Wii sold 334,800 units, up from 277,200 units in April, and 289,500 a year ago.

Among the handhelds:

• The Sony PSP sold 59,400 units, down from 65,500 in April, and 100,400 a year ago.
• The Nintendo DS sold 383,700 units, down from 440,800 in April (and 700,800 in March) and 633,500 a year ago.

Here’s a look at the 10 best selling software titles for the month; NPD now provides actual unit data only for the top five”

• Red Dead Redemption, Take Two Interactive, for the Xbox, 945,900 units.
• Red Dead Redemption, Take Two, for the PS3, 567,100 units.
• Super Mario Galaxy 2, Nintendo, for the Wii, 563,900 units.
• UFC 2010: Undisputed, THQ, for the Xbox, 221,100 units.
• UFC 2010: Undisputed, THQ, for the PS3, 192,300 units.
• Wii Fit Plus w/Balance Board, Nintendo, for the Wii.
• New Super Mario Bros., Nintendo, for the Wii.
• Alan Wake, Microsoft, for Xbox.
• Pokemon SoulSilver Version, Nintendo, for Wii.
• Skate 3, Electronic Arts, for Xbox.