NPD starts tracking subscriptions

The NPD Group has been tracking US retail gaming sales for years, offering industry insiders some perspective on which games are selling the best, and on which platforms. However, as a number of nonretail trends such as microtransactions, downloadable content, and digital distribution have taken hold, the NPD Group's picture of the industry's financial landscape has become less comprehensive.

Today the NPD Group announced the first step in its plans to restore that picture, as the industry watchers announced a new series of quarterly reports tracking the online subscription market for console and PC games, as well as broader PC software like security and personal finance programs. It is unclear when or if the first report, which is available to NPD subscribers, will be released to the press.

The reports will track paid subscriptions and renewals, and will be based on survey responses from an online panel of more than 3 million consumers. The gaming information will be drawn from "thousands of gamers ages 13 and older" who are members of that panel.