Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
Figures released Saturday show U.S. videogame sales sank in July for the fifth straight month as bleak economic conditions and a dearth of blockbuster titles weighed down the industry.
U.S. sales of videogame hardware and software in July fell to just shy of $849 million, a 29% drop from the $1.19 billion in sales racked up in the same month last year, according to NPD Group.
Sales of videogame consoles and handheld devices for the month plunged 37% to about $281 million as compared to nearly $448 million in July of 2008, NPD reported.
Overall videogame industry sales in the United States for the first seven months of this year amounted to $8.16 billion, 14% lower than they were in the same period last year, according to NPD.
"While year-to-date results are weak, there are some big titles set to be released over the next several months, including Madden this month, which should help spur sales," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. "The worst comps should be behind us."
Nintendo's "Sports Resort" tailored to enhanced motion-sensing controllers for Wii consoles was the month's top selling title with slightly more than 508,000 units bought.
The biggest decline in videogame sales was seen in the music and dance genres, according to NPD.
Videogame sales should be boosted with the releases later this year of eagerly-anticipated titles including "The Beatles: Rock Band," "Halo 3: ODST," and "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2," according to Frazier.
A sequel to an "Assassin's Creed" blockbuster role-playing videogame from France-based Ubisoft is expected to be among the hot titles hitting the market in time for the year-end holiday shopping season.
Nintendo dominated videogame hardware sales with its Wii consoles and DS handheld players, according to NPD. Nintendo reportedly sold 252,500 Wiis and 538,900 DS devices.
"Hardware sales have slowed considerably on nearly every platform," Frazier said, noting that Microsoft's Xbox 360 was the only console gaining ground this year when it came to sales.
Industry analysts say that the pressure is on for console price cuts to spark sales, and that Sony may be planning a slimmed-down version of its PlayStation 3 videogame console.
© Wire reports
13 Comments
Login to comment
movieguy
GOOD! I hope that means that weights have dropped five consecutive months too!
Raja Kumar
Drop in videogames sales,this may be a good news from the business slowdown.
More people out of the video games addiction,the better.
nightflesh
The only reason there is a drop is because there isnt anything new or worth buying as of right now. The sales will sky rocket when a few new franchise games come out like Diablo 3, MoH5, Rainbow 6, and many others.
gogogo
Hello, it's summer, come Oct they will come back it happens every year, who does the research on this?
JayJayE
When Fallout 3 and Mass Effect came out we had news that the video game market was holding out. I guess people are bored of those games now.
Don't get me wrong, I played both games and loved them, but I myself am more worried about things in the real world now than video games.
Maybe rajakumar is right, which is a lot coming from a gamer....
Airion
I disagree with Rajakumar. I think people "addicted" to video games play one or a few games consistently, rather than buying and playing a variety of games. I don't think these declining sales indicate video game addicts are giving it up.
IchyaWarFare
JayJayE, if you are a gamer, you would not agree at all. I got a family, work and go to school. I quit smoking and slowed down on the alcohol. Gaming keeps me sane in Japan. With crap TV and movies and coming home from a busy day with no smoke and cutting out the beer, gaming is not a bad choice. Do not know what rajakumar is on, but to each his own.
Also, gogogo is right on with that, it is Summer, though some good titles did come out, who buys during summer. There will be a surge in Oct.
Jkanda
Ichyawarfare, there is a huge difference between addiction and playing the videogames for a certain amount of time. You sound like you are balancing the many things in life along with spending a certain amount of time playing the games. That as compared to someone who spends his entire time and resources on videogames is different.
pawatan
Bad statistics. Sales dropped year to year but not necessarily month to month, which is what the article implies. The fact that 2009 is worse than 2008 doesn't mean 2009 is a bad year; it could mean 2008 was a great year and 2009 was just not as good.
More context needed!
JayJayE
IchyaWarFare, I am a gamer but I have other issues to address right now. No doubt when all this insanity has died down, I'll fire up the games again. If there is a boom in October and I'm not too busy, I look forward to it.
You're right, games do help keep you sane and in the long run, better than smoke or alcohol, but I also find them distracting sometimes. Each to their own I guess, but I like to think I can pull myself out of them when I need to (though I could be wrong).
womanforwoman, well said. There are gamers and there are "gamers".
NeilWarnock
Kids should be out playing sports, keeping fit and strong.
Football is a better thingthan video games rubbish making kids fat, thank god sales are down, hopefully this trend will continue.]
Kids, get out on the pitch, andif you try your best, you could be playing for Crystal Palace one day, far better than spending your parents money will dumbing your brain.
Ban video games for the under 18,s unless educational. Hope the game co0mpanies go broke.
Icewind007
While this may help bring down the prices, this will also take it's toll on the production of good video games. I am in no way affected by the economy so I still buy games regularly. I feel for those less fortunate.
"More people out of the video games addiction,the better."
I don't see how this is related. I play video games all the time and buy them every now and then. I am more concerned about the truly lifeless activities like watching TV and movies. Those are the laziest things people can do; your hands are free enough for a bucket of popcorn or a bag of chips. However, the spot-light was taken away by video games because old people disliking the new stuff wanted their old time favorite past-time to look better.
"Kids should be out playing sports, keeping fit and strong. Ban video games for the under 18,s unless educational. Hope the game co0mpanies go broke."
I am guessing you are way over the hill... We are in an age of electronics and late nights. Try pitching some balls after 8pm. Also, the great majority of gamers are NOT fat. A recent study shows that the average video gamer in America has 25.2 BMI, lower than the national average in America. I, even as an avid gamer, jog 8 miles every other day. Days in between are spent at the gym weight lifting. My BMI is 18. Think about that...
Also, what if I said the same thing about books, TV, radio, and movies? BAN them all for those under 18. Unless they are educational...
BTW, what's so "educational" about football? I think video games have that beat in terms of education.
IchyaWarFare
NeilWarnock-you are totally off topic and what you say is totally untrue. You can buy into the stereotype all you want, but you are sadly mistaken.
Womanforwomen-I gave how I do balance my life out, but I am a tried and true gamer. I have and still play for days on end, if time is allowed. Oh, and are you following me?
Icewind-Nice points.