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October 2014 NPD: NBA 2K15 Catches Nothing But Net In Even Month
This month's NPD report shows the industry leveling out year-over-year, with hardware gains making up for retail software losses. Console and handheld sales climbed to $273.5 million from $171.7 million over this month last year (a 59 percent jump).
Software fell by 27 percent from 482.6 million to $350.3 million. In a related note, this was the best October on record for physical point and subscription cards. This falls in line with what we've heard from publishers about significant growth of full-title digital sales.
New title releases were down 42 percent over October 2013, and last-gen software purchases continue to decline at a rate that exceeds gains in retail new-gen sales. Here's the top 10 rundown for the month:
- NBA 2K15 (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, PC)
- Super Smash Bros. (3DS)
- The Evil Within (PS4, XBO, PS3, 360, PC)
- Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! (360, PS3, PC)
- Destiny (360, XBO, PS4, PS3)
- Skylanders Trap Team (360, Wii, NWU, PS3, XBO, PS4, 3DS, MOB)
- FIFA 15 (PS4, 360, PS3, XBO, Wii, PSV, 3DS)
- Madden NFL 15 (360, PS4, PS3, XBO)
- Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor (PS4, XBO, PC)
- Minecraft (360, PS3, PS4)
Note that platforms appear in order of retail sales strength, with PlayStation 4 versions beating out Xbox One SKUs at the register in many (but not all) cases. Destiny and Skylanders: Trap Team performed better on Xbox One.
It's also important to note that by SKU (rather than by title), Sunset Overdrive was the ninth best-selling. The Evil Within set records for best-selling new survival horror IP.
Note: NPD covers retail sales in the United States only.
Our Take
Here are the notable takeaways from the October 2014 report. First, Nintendo has everything to be happy about with Super Smash Bros. in the number two spot against multi-platform releases. It bodes well for the Wii U release, which is not something I expected earlier this year. I stated often I felt that releasing the 3DS version was the wrong call. I promised I'd admit if I was wrong, and with news that pre-orders for the Wii U version trumping even Mario Kart 8, I am willing to do so now.
Destiny continues to do well, which doesn't surprise me given our readership's fascination with the game. Minecraft continues to make an appearance on the chart, bearing out Microsoft's $2.5 billion bet.
Finally, kudos are in order both for Micrososft, Insomniac Games, Bethesda, and Tango Gameworks. Sunset Overdrive performed well critically and at the register, and The Evil Within (which I am live-streaming in full) set a record.
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