AfterDawn: News

Nintendo dominates U.S. December video game hardware sales

According to the latest NPD figures, the struggling video game industry ended 2009 on a high note, with hardware sales jumping 16 percent, offsetting a dip in software sales. Overall, sales jumped 4 percent to a record $5.5 billion USD.

Nintendo dominated the hardware and software charts, winning the month easily, spurred by promotions from Amazon and Wal-Mart. The Wii sold 3.8 million units and the DS/DSi sold 3.31 million units. In the software chart, Nintendo had 6 of the top 10 sellers, including the top 3 (if you split Modern Warfare 2 into separate console sales).



"We expected to have a good holiday and this was a great reaffirmation of that," added Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing.

PlayStation 3 sales jumped 90 percent to 1.36 million units, and the Xbox 360 was slightly behind at 1.31 million units sold for the month. The PSP got crushed in the handheld market battle, selling just 656,000 units.

Industry analyst Michael Pachter says he sees good things for 2010, with popular sequels set for release such as God of War 3 and the new Bioshock.

The numbers:

PlayStation 2 333.2K
PlayStation 3 1.36M
PSP 654.7K
Xbox 360 1.31M
Wii 3.81M
Nintendo DS 3.31M

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jan 2010 12:24

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• 6 comments

• Morreale

  I was surprised to see the PS3 come in second. I though the 360 would come out on top (besides Wii of course) since M$ cheated like 1,000,000 people into buying a new console before Christmas as they normally do... Perhaps the majority of those people gave up and went with a PS3 this year? Me, I bought my friend's broken and unbanned 360 for $5 and fixed it (have a PS3 though, save the good games for it) :)

  15.1.2010 18:31 #1

• fgamer

  I'm a huge supporter of Microsoft's 360, but it makes you wonder how desperate they will get to get people to buy a 360 so they can boost sales. I really don't like Sony much but I did notice they get new buyers by dropping the price and thinking outside of the box (hence the PS3 Slim, different interesting games outside the norm). Microsoft on the other hand wants to ban people and use mean, cruel tactics to help spur sales to the possitive. I have a funny feeling the next ban wave to come through will take out a whole lot more of innocent people who don't mod/hack.
  
  
  I don't have a modded console but their ban waves make me nervous because I hear they aren't 100% accurate on who they zap. But I'm starting to like the idea of Sony beatin out Microsoft, so they can take their cocky attitude and start doing their user base right. The cards is in Microsoft's hand on how to re-juice up the 360..because I haven't heard about any games that's really coming out this year that will raise the bar. Come on Microsoft..give us something to salivate over! Give us a reason to be a proud supporter of the 360..give us something different and outside of the box other than the Natal which kinda is thinking outside of the box..but we want games that are different and makes the 360 the console of choice hands down. I'm countin on ya Microsoft..but I wont hold my breath because you always find a way to f..k up : )

  15.1.2010 19:06 #2

• llongtheD

  Originally posted by Morreale: I was surprised to see the PS3 come in second. I though the 360 would come out on top (besides Wii of course) since M$ cheated like 1,000,000 people into buying a new console before Christmas as they normally do... Perhaps the majority of those people gave up and went with a PS3 this year? Me, I bought my friend's broken and unbanned 360 for $5 and fixed it (have a PS3 though, save the good games for it) :)Cheated 1,000,000 people into buying the 360?
  It makes me laugh when people take the risk to modify a console so they can play pirated games, get banned, then blame someone else.
  No one wants to take any responsibility for their actions I guess.
  If you modify it, at least have the backbone to own up and take the responsibility. I'm no fan of microsoft, especially when they pull stuff like they did with aftermarket memory cards, but come on.
  I think the sales have less to do with banning modders than the Wii being least expensive, the ps3 having bluray, and being a solid gaming console.

  15.1.2010 19:22 #3

• Morreale

  Quote:Originally posted by Morreale: I was surprised to see the PS3 come in second. I though the 360 would come out on top (besides Wii of course) since M$ cheated like 1,000,000 people into buying a new console before Christmas as they normally do... Perhaps the majority of those people gave up and went with a PS3 this year? Me, I bought my friend's broken and unbanned 360 for $5 and fixed it (have a PS3 though, save the good games for it) :)Cheated 1,000,000 people into buying the 360?
  It makes me laugh when people take the risk to modify a console so they can play pirated games, get banned, then blame someone else.
  No one wants to take any responsibility for their actions I guess.
  If you modify it, at least have the backbone to own up and take the responsibility. I'm no fan of microsoft, especially when they pull stuff like they did with aftermarket memory cards, but come on.
  I think the sales have less to do with banning modders than the Wii being least expensive, the ps3 having bluray, and being a solid gaming console.It's not really about being banned from Live, for me I could care less about it and expected it sooner or later as should everyone. This time around, everyone who was banned had their HDDs disabled, profiles corrupted and lost Media Center extender on that console. That wasn't expected at all. Pretty much many people would have to buy a new 360 regardless if they care about Live or not because it's much better to have a backed up game installed to the HDD rather then played off the DVD, prolongs the life of the laser.
  
  And OH SNAP, I forgot about the memory card BS. That's just robbery for anyone who tried to avoid being overcharged by them.

  15.1.2010 21:37 #4

• borhan9

  The Wii is the cheaper console soo hence will win the hardware sales however game wise i love the games on ps3

  18.1.2010 07:11 #5

• IguanaC64

  I find it funny all the publishers whining about it not being profitable to develop for the DS because of how easy it is to pirate. It's just as possible on the PSP...AND the PSP got crushed by the DS in sales.
  
  Business as usual...whine about piracy and make empty threats about leaving the biggest selling platform.

  21.1.2010 16:19 #6