August U.S. NPD console numbers released

NPD has released their latest U.S. video game industry numbers, for the month of August, with PS3 hardware sales seeing a bump due to the Slim PS3 but with software and other consoles seeing strong declines.

Overall, the combined industry (hardware, software, accessories) saw a 16 percent year-on-year decline to $908 million USD. August saw a slight improvement from July however, when full revenue fell to $849 million USD.

Hardware sales fell 25 percent YOY, to $298 million, up just under 10 percent from July's low. The DSi and DS Lite remained on top, with the Wii coming in second and the Xbox 360 and PS3 almost identical in third and fourth. The PSP lagged far behind. Full stats:

Full Hardware Numbers

Nintendo DS: 552,900
Wii: 277,400
Xbox 360: 215,400
PlayStation 3: 210,000
PSP: 140,300
PlayStation 2: 105,900

Xbox 360 numbers are likely to see a bump in September however, as Microsoft has cut the price of the Elite model to $299 USD.

"These PlayStation 3 figures show that the new $299 price point is a definite sweet spot for the console and I expect the momentum gained in August to continue through the holiday season,". added Electronic Entertainment Design and Research director of analyst services Jesse Divnich, via Gamespot. "August also marks the first month the PlayStation 3 has shown year-over-year growth in 2009, and we expect similar growth for the remainder of 2009."

With the exception of Madden NFL 10 and a few select others like Batman: Arkham Asylum, software took a severe hit as well, dropping 15 percent YOY.

Full Software Numbers

Title / Publisher / Units**
1) Madden NFL 10 (360) / Electronic Arts / 928,000
2) Wii Sports Resort w/ Wii Motion Plus (Wii) / Nintendo / 754,000
3) Madden NFL 10 (PS3) / Electronic Arts/ 665,000
4) Batman: Arkham Asylum (360) / Square Enix (Eidos) / 303,000
5) Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3) / Square Enix (Eidos) / 290,000
6) Madden NFL 10 (PS2) / Electronic Arts / 160,000
7) Dissidia: Final Fantasy (PSP) / Square Enix / 130,000
8) Wii Fit (Wii) / Nintendo / 128,000
9) Mario Kart w/ Wheel (Wii) / Nintendo / 120,000
10) Fossil Fighters (DS) / Nintendo / 92,000

Accessories were the only sector to see growth year on year, a 2 percent bump to $137.96 million USD.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Sep 2009 16:35

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9 comments

jookycola

Whoops!
The PS3 Slim was barely out the last week of August. And the 360 only edged it out by a very thin margin. Looks like a "I told you so" may come sooner than later. Here's to looking forward to 360 fanboys crying afoul when the September numbers arrive and the Slim is dead on even...or exceeds the sales of their beloved glorified DVD player.

Dropping the cost of the Elite won't help, the 360 has over saturated the market. In only it's first week on the market the PS3 Slim is bumping on the xbox's back door. At this rate by Christmas the PS3 will be the dominate system.

This is not a slam, or to incite console bickering. This is just a simple and obvious observation. If you want to argue it, then that's cool but numbers don't lie, and the slims barely trickled into stores the last 5 or so days of August So that's pretty impressive. The PS3 Slim's first week sales are better than anyone would have even suspected I'm sure. And nobody can deny the results show a pretty good indication that this is probably the beginning of the PS3's climb back to the top.

12.9.2009 06:55 #1

jetyi83

slim didnt even sell publicly until sep 1st, so the numbers arent going to show real sales yet.

12.9.2009 14:41 #2

xnmalletx

Wow! fanboy much?

12.9.2009 19:10 #3

jookycola

Originally posted by xnmalletx: Wow! fanboy much?Just the facts bud. Sorry i don't make the rules

12.9.2009 23:33 #4

Wanpa-Kun

Quote:Originally posted by xnmalletx: Wow! fanboy much?Just the facts bud. Sorry i don't make the rulesYou do in fact sound like a fanboy. You tone is over enthusiastically in favor of the PS3 or at the very least biased.

The facts don't lie, you are right. The PS3 seems to have picked up sales for the month of August but the 360 will also pick up additional sales in September due to the price cut, how much is debatable.

Saying that this might be the beginning of the PS3's climb back to the top based on 1 month of data I think is overly optimistic. It might be the case but we'll have to wait and see a couple more months. Another thing, was the PS3 ever on top to begin with?

13.9.2009 02:36 #5

Wanpa-Kun

Ok. According to NSD the PS3 outsold the 360 for 5 months in 2008.
- http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/NPD_Seventh_generation

13.9.2009 02:46 #6

jookycola

Nope, not a fanboy. i like my PS3, but i like my 360, N64, PS2, SNES, Game Gear, PSP, DS too.

And i highly doubt the 360's price cut will have as big an impact as the Sony units cut. The 360's market is over saturated. When looking to upgrade a system what's the incentive a current 360 owner has buy another 360? I wouldn't. And really, with an outdated DVD-9 drive, overpriced online service, and only 720p HDMI capacity is the Elite really an upgrade over a PS3?
I'd have to say, at $299 why waste my money, i already have a 360 i love. I'd like to try the PS3 and see what it has to offer, with all this hype about blu-ray and the free network and whatnot and have both systems to play with.

That's where Microsoft failed, they already dominate the market, most REAL gamers wouldn't buy 2 of the same system but rather have one of each.

You say overly optimistic, i say realist.

13.9.2009 11:00 #7

borhan9

Simple maths people. Price goes down more units will be sold and revenue will grow again.
I want an Xbox and then i will have the trifector :)

13.9.2009 16:25 #8

lxhotboy

Originally posted by jookycola: Nope, not a fanboy. i like my PS3, but i like my 360, N64, PS2, SNES, Game Gear, PSP, DS too.

And i highly doubt the 360's price cut will have as big an impact as the Sony units cut. The 360's market is over saturated. When looking to upgrade a system what's the incentive a current 360 owner has buy another 360? I wouldn't. And really, with an outdated DVD-9 drive, overpriced online service, and only 720p HDMI capacity is the Elite really an upgrade over a PS3?
I'd have to say, at $299 why waste my money, i already have a 360 i love. I'd like to try the PS3 and see what it has to offer, with all this hype about blu-ray and the free network and whatnot and have both systems to play with.

That's where Microsoft failed, they already dominate the market, most REAL gamers wouldn't buy 2 of the same system but rather have one of each.

You say overly optimistic, i say realist.I must admit your post does seemed kinda biased but at the same time you are right. My situation is the same as your own and i wouldnot buy another 360 and will probably buy a PS3 eventually. With that said, i dont think it really matter right now regarding the PS3 having blueray or native 1080 resolution as long as the multiplatform games still look the same. That's coming from one REALIST TO ANOTHER. Lol... When their is a diff as their was apparent on multiplatform games on xbox and PS2 then it may be worth mentioning all those things but they still claim to be working on programming more efficiently for the PS3 at this time.

On topic.... Of course the PS3 sales will go up. It was seriously overpriced compared to competitors and though it is still higher it will at least put the PS3 into a price range that the average gamer will be more willing to pay. Wii sales will probably slow down as they have really saturated the market if no other console has of yet. I mainly only use my Wii to do anything but keep up with my weight (Wii fit), which i love being able to track and monitor my weight to keep from getting out of shape. Their are still same great games out there on Wii i need to check out but i cant seem to stop buying these games for my xbox360. It gets all my playing time.

14.9.2009 00:17 #9

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