GTA 5 top-selling game in 2013 in US, Call of Duty: Ghosts leads December -- NPD

The NPD released December sales data on both the top-selling games for December 2013 in the US and overall for 2013 in the US:

December 2013 Top 10 Games (New Physical Retail only; across all platforms including PC)

• Call Of Duty: Ghosts (360, PS3, XBO, PS4, NWU, PC)** -- Activision Blizzard
• Battlefield 4 (360, XBO, PS4, PS3, PC) -- Electronic Arts
• Just Dance 2014 (WII, 360, NWU, XBO, PS3, PS4)** -- Ubisoft
• Madden NFL 25 (360, XBO, PS3, PS4) -- Electronic Arts
• NBA 2K14 (360, PS3, PS4, XBO, PC)** -- Take 2 Interactive
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (360, PS3, PS4, XBO, NWU, PC)** -- Ubisoft
• Grand Theft Auto V (360, PS3)** -- Take 2 Interactive
• Lego Marvel Super Heroes (360, PS3, 3DS, XBO, PS4, NWU, PSV, PC) -- Warner Bros. Interactive
• FIFA 14 (360, PS4, XBO, PS3, PSV) -- Electronic Arts
• Skylanders SWAP Force (WII, 360, PS3, NWU, 3DS, XBO, PS4)** -- Activision Blizzard

Annual 2013 Top 10 Games (New Physical Retail only; across all platforms including PC)

• Grand Theft Auto V (360, PS3)** -- Take 2 Interactive
• Call Of Duty: Ghosts (360, PS3, XBO, PS4, PC, NWU)** -- Activision Blizzard
• Madden NFL 25 (360, PS3, PS4, XBO) -- Electronic Arts
• Battlefield 4 (360, PS3, XBO, PS4, PC) -- Electronic Arts
• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (360, PS3, PS4, XBO, NWU, PC)** -- Ubisoft
• NBA 2K14 (360, PS3, PS4, XBO, PC)** -- Take 2 Interactive
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II (360, PS3, NWU, PC)** -- Activision Blizzard
• Just Dance 2014 (WII, 360, NWU, XBO, PS3, PS4)** -- Ubisoft
• Minecraft (360) -- Microsoft
• Disney Infinity (360, WII, PS3, NWU, 3DS) -- Disney Interactive Studios

**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

Console hardware sales are up 50% over December 2012; the Xbox One sold the most home consoles overall in December, as reported earlier today, but the PlayStation 4 sold more cumulatively during Microsoft and Sony's launch period. Video game software sales for the year are down 17% percent primarily because of "the poor performance of November launches in December 2013," according to the NPD report.

Take 2 Interactive was the top game publisher in 2013, because of the success of Grand Theft Auto V, BioShock Infinite, and the NBA 2K franchise. The NPD writes, "Grand Theft Auto V ranked as the top game in 2013 (based on units sold), and after four months of sales is within striking distance of surpassing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as the highest selling game within the Grand Theft Auto franchise."

The NPD also stated that, "For the fifth year in a row, the standard 360 version of Call of Duty was the top-selling [version of that game] for December." The absence of best-sellers like Pokemon X/Y and The Last of Us is attributed to those games' platform exclusivity; it's worth noting that Pokemon X and Pokemon Y are distinguished as separate games by the NPD.

Game controllers, point/subscription cards, and "interactive gaming toys" were "the top 3 accessory types in 2013 based on revenue" according to the NPD. And despite competition from Disney Infinity, December 2013 was the best month ever for Skylanders Interactive Gaming Toy sales on a dollar basis.”