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NPD Releases 2010 Year-End Sales Data
The industry sales tracking organization NPD has finally released its industry-wide sales data for 2010, and while games remain strong, the industry did sag a bit in comparison to 2009. Since NPD basically stopped giving out any specific sales numbers, we don't have a clear a picture as we'd like, but still it does paint a picture of the industry in the year that just passed.
While the overall amount consumers spent on games -- estimated between $15.4 and $15.6 billion -- was impressive, sales in most categories were down. According to NPD, "This total consumer spend on games content in 2010 represent sales that are flat to down by as much as 1 percent when compared to 2009."
Interestingly, PC packaged good sales were up three percent -- likely due to blockbusters like StarCraft II and World of Warcraft: Cateclysm. Sales of used, digital downloads, mobile, and social gaming also saw increases.
Still, the bulk of industry sales was still in physical product, accounting for $10.1 billion of the total.
NPD 2010 Top 10 Games
Call of Duty: Black Ops** (360, PS3, Wii, PC, NDS)
Madden NFL 11 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP)
Halo: Reach** (360)
New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
Red Dead Redemption (360, PS3)
Wii Fit Plus** (Wii)
Just Dance 2 (Wii)
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2** (360, PS3, PC)
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood** (360, PS3)
NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, PC)
December 2010 Top 10 Games
Call of Duty: Black Ops** (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PC)
Just Dance 2 (Wii)
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm** (PC)
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood** (360, PS3)
Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii)
Disney Epic Mickey** (Wii)
Madden NFL 11 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP)
Michael Jackson The Experience** (Wii, NDS, PSP)
NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC)
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (360, PS3, Wii, PC)
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