NPD: the video game segment in the US experienced the worst August in 20 years

Madden NFL 20

This is reported by NPD, according to Gamesindustry.biz and VentureBeat.

Analysts have published data on sales of gaming segments in the United States for August and in total for the past months of the year.

General market figures (for August)

• The total turnover is $666 million (fell by 18% year-on-year).
• Video game sales — $257 million (down 22% year-on-year).
• Sales of iron — $167 million (fell by 22% year-on-year).
• Accessory sales — $242 million (down 6% year-on-year).

Total market figures (since the beginning of the year)

• The total turnover is $7 billion (fell by 6% compared to January — August 2018).
• Video game sales — $3.1 billion (increased by 1%).
• Sales of iron — $1.6 billion (fell by 21%).
• Accessory sales — $2.3 billion (down 2%).

MinecraftConsole Sales

Here the picture is already familiar: Nintendo Switch is still the market leader. This is the best-selling console of the year in the USA at the moment.

In addition, it is the only one in the hardware segment that shows an increase in sales. Since sales of consoles from Sony and Microsoft, on the contrary, are declining on the eve of the expected generational change.

Game Sales

For the American segment of video games, the past August turned out to be the least profitable since 1998. According to NPD, game sales for the same month that year totaled $234 million.

Until last month, the software periodically showed sales growth. But it also sank significantly in January — by almost 20% year-on-year.

Let’s add that since July, Madden NFL 20 has occupied the first line of the top best-selling games in the United States. It is also worth noting the success of Minecraft: it reached the second line of the rating for the first time in the entire history of NPD observations.

Top 10 best-selling games in August

1. Madden NFL 20 (excluding digital sales on PC)
2. Minecraft (including digital sales on PS4 and Xbox One)
3. Grand Theft Auto V
4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (excluding digital sales)
5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (excluding digital sales)
6. Super Mario Maker 2 (excluding digital sales)
7. Mario Kart 8 (excluding digital sales)
8. Mortal Kombat 11
9. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
10. Astral Chain (excluding digital sales)

Also on the topic:

• NPD: the revenue of the US gaming market for July amounted to $762 millionNPD: In April, Mortal Kombat 11 became the bestseller of the US market on all platforms