NPD: BF3 moves “just under” 2 million, 360 still tops
October 2011 saw a 1% increase in sales yoy to $1.08 billion compared to $1.07 billion the year prior, according NPD’s monthly US figures.
Hardware goes up
Hardware sales were up 6% from $279.9 million to $295 million, and with PC and handheld sales considered, the total comes to $649.5 million, compared to $643.9 million a year ago.
Accessories fell 5% to $135.9 million percent from $142.4 million during the same period in 2010.
Microsoft held 44% share of the overall current-generation console market, selling 393,000 units in October, maintaining its number-one spot in the US. This was the eighth consecutive month Xbox 360 had over 40% of the current-generation console market share, and a 21% yoy growth compared to the same period last year.
Total retail spend on Xbox 360 in October, including hardware, software and accessories, reached $490 million.
As reported earlier, Nintendo systems did well, with 675,000 units of combined hardware sales for October. 3DS moved over 250,000 units, and nearly 250,000 Wii units were sold. Older NDS systems moved close to 180,000 units.
3DS has now sold 1.65 million units in the US during its eight months on the market, and for the year, Nintendo has sold a combined 7 million hardware units in the region, with Will sales are up 8% yoy, and DS sales up 23% over September.
“On an average sales per week basis, October 2011 unit sales of 3DS, DS, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360 platforms all saw an increase over September 2011, which was a 5-week retail month," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier, noting that the sector might come in flat at the end of the year, or be down by 2% for full 2011.
Software shows growth
Software grew 3%, increasing from $604.8 million to $621.3 million, with Battlefield 3 the clear winner with just under 2 million units sold across all platforms. Frazier said she expects "notable sales occurred via digital downloading as well,” for the title.
Second on the chart was Batman: Arkham City, which 1.5 million units across both PS3 and Xbox 360. Rage, which came in fourth, moved approximately 550,000 units across PS3 and Xbox 360.
On the top 10 chart, seven were new releases, and sold 23% more than the top 10% last October. The dance category was up 135% yoy, thanks to Dance Central 2 and Just Dance 3. Activision's new toy-game hybrid Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, hit at number 11 for the month.
During October, Xbox 360 held six of the top 10 console game titles including: Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, NBA 2K12, Rage, Forza Motorsport 4 and Gears of War 3.
For Nintendo, the firm noted that more than 55 million units of software have been sold for Nintendo platforms during 2011.
Sony noted in a statement that InFamous: Festival of Blood was the fastest selling PS3 digital game ever launched on PSN.
NPD Software Top 10
- Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC)
- Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3)
- NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, PSP, Wii, PS2, PC)
- Rage (360, PS3, PC)
- Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360)
- Dark Souls (PS3, 360)
- Madden NFL 12 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP)
- Forza Motorsport 4 (360)
- Gears of War 3 (360)
- FIFA Soccer 12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, 3DS)