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May 2015 NPD: PS4 Tops Console Sales Charts, The Witcher 3 Leads Software Sales
The NPD numbers for the month of May released today, and showed that more consumers are moving on to newer consoles. Even though both new hardware and software sales declined during May 2015, the sales for eight generation consoles were consistent with the sales of those same platforms in April 2015.
In all, new physical hardware and software sales were down 25 percent and 18 percent respectively. Last generation hardware sales, however, were down 45 percent while current generation hardware remained consistent with last month's numbers. Portable hardware sales were up 41 percent. PlayStation 4 outsold all other platforms, taking back the top slot from Xbox One.
Accessories showed the most growth, as its dollar sales jumped up 20 percent thanks in large part to Nintendo's Amiibo figures. This marks the first time since their debut that Amiibos led the way in the accessories category. Interactive gaming toy sales as a whole skyrocketed with a growth of 73 percent.
Meanwhile, current generation software unit sales were up 8 percent. When compared to the busy May 2014, which featured Watch Dogs and Mario Kart 8, May 2015's software sales were down 55 percent. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt led all other games in May to post the best first month unit sales of any role-playing game in the current generation of consoles – an impressive feat for a game releasing more than halfway through its month. Last month's sales leader, Mortal Kombat X, also posted great sales and held strong at the number 2 spot. Splatoon also sold well enough to land at the number 5 spot despite only releasing on Wii U and launching on May 29.
Here's the full top ten list:
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4, XBO, PC)
- Mortal Kombat X (PS4, XBO)
- Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, PC)
- Minecraft (360, PS3, XBO, PS4)
- Splatoon (NWU)
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4, 360, XBO, PS3, PC)
- NBA 2K15 (360, PS4, XBO, PS3, PC)
- FIFA 15 (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, Wii, 3DS, PSV)
- MLB 15: The Show (PS4, PS3)
- Super Smash Bros. (3DS, NWU)
The NPD Group's Liam Callahan notes that if the software list was based on individual SKUs rather than a title basis that accounts for all platforms for each game, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster on PlayStation 4 would have made the top ten list.
As a reminder, the monthly NPD report only includes retail sales in the United States. The numbers in the top ten list include the sales of collector's editions, game of the year editions, and bundles, but not those bundled with hardware.
Our Take
The overall decline is to be expected as more consumers move away from the older platforms and onto newer ones. May showed a significant drop-off with last generation hardware, but PlayStation 4 and Xbox One continue to move units. The fact that PlayStation 4 took back the lead after Xbox One outsold it in April speaks very strongly for the competition currently in the industry. The absolute best thing for consumers is for the industry to have strong competition between the platforms. We already knew that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sold well, so its top ranking on the list is no surprise. With E3 coming next week, the sales for June and July will be very exciting as publishers, developers, and platform holdings start revving their hype engines.
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