[Update] Research firm NPD Group has reported overall November US videogame sales were up 34 percent year-over-year, with software sales up 15 percent; NPD’s Anita Frazier optimistic about full year.
[Update] The NPD Group has informed Next-Gen that some of the historical figures that it released last night are incorrect. November results, however, are accurate. The historical errors affect forecasts, including Frazier's $13 billion-plus prediction for the full year, as well as percentage changes and year-to-date figures. The NPD apologizes and Next-Gen will update with corrections when the NPD releases the updated figures.
Total industry sales for the month were $1.7 billion and $9.4 billion year-to-date. NPD analyst Frazier expressed to Next-Gen, “I don't think any category shows any signs of the growth letting up. … I would not be surprised to see total year sales come in north of $13 billion once December figures are in.”
Videogame console software sales were $804 million versus $702 million in November 2005, topped by Microsoft’s Gears of War, which sold 1 million units and raked in $61.5 million in sales (including the higher-priced Collector’s Edition).
Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XII followed at 896,000 units and $49 million in sales, and the third slot was filled by Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess for Wii, which sold 412,000 copies and generated $20.2 million in sales. Activision’s $80 Guitar Hero II with controller came in fourth at 356,000 units and $28 million in sales.
Frazier noted that Gears of War is Microsoft’s first Xbox 360 game that it has released at the $60 price point (the Collector’s Edition was $70), and it still managed big sales. The analyst called the game “a testament to the power of great content,” adding “Price just isn't a barrier when the content delivers.”
The software results fall in line with analysts’ expectations.
New consoles PlayStation 3 and Wii launched November 17 and 19, respectively, making blips on a radar which was dominated by sales of the Nintendo DS.
The Wii sold 476,000 units for the month, while the shorter-in-supply PlayStation 3 sold 197,000 units. Sony was aiming to have 400,000 units available on launch day in the US.
The little DS juggernaut sold 918,000 units in November, bringing life-to-date US sales to 8.1 million units. The PS2 followed as the second-best selling piece of hardware for the month with 664,000 units sold. Third place was held by the never-say-die GameBoy Advance with 641,000 units.
Xbox 360 was next, with 511,000 units sold, bringing life-to-date US sales to 3.8 million units. The PSP followed with 412,000 sold during the month.
Frazier said she was “surprised” by the continued strong performance of the PS2 and GBA.
Total hardware sales came to $771 million, up 69 percent compared to last November. The amount was comprised of $519 million in console hardware (a 103 percent increase) and $252 million from portables (a 26 percent increase).
“As for console hardware sales, the biggest contributor in terms of units was clearly the PS2, but the 360 and the Wii contributed the most in dollar sales,” Frazier said. “The 360 accounted for about 26 percent of total hardware dollar sales.”
Year-to-date hardware sales were $3.3 billion.
Accessory sales were up 19 percent year-over-year at $158 million.
Frazier said of the results, "It's just such overall good news that bodes very well for the health of this industry."
Who the heck keeps buying GBAs!
