Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

July US game sales sink 29%, Wii Sports Resort on top

NPD reports game industry's fifth straight month of double-digit decline; hardware down 47%, software 26%; Nintendo and EA titles claim entire top 10 best-seller list.

The bad times keep on truckin' for the game industry. The NPD Group released its US retail sales figures for July today, and the numbers were down by double digits for the fifth straight month.

AAAAAAAAAHHHH!

AAAAAAAAAHHHH!

Combining hardware, software, and accessory sales, games raked in $848.90 million for July, down 29 percent from the previous July's $1.19 billion take. Software sales were off more sharply than analysts expected, suffering a 26 percent drop to $436.99 million. Rough as that number was, gaming hardware performed even worse, down 37 percent to $280.94 million.

Hardware sales were down across the board, with the usual sales order well preserved. The DS topped all hardware with 538,900 units sold, followed by the Wii with an uncharacteristically earthbound 252,500 systems sold--the lowest since the supply drought of the system following its 2006 launch. The Xbox 360 was off from its July 2008 total by less than 2,000 systems, selling 202,900 over the month. The PSP, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 2 brought up the rear, selling 122,800, 121,800, and 108,000, respectively.

On the software side, Nintendo's Wii Sports Resort took home the sales trophy, with the Wii Motion Plus pack-in game moving 508,200 copies in its debut month. The only other new release to make the top 10 was Electronic Arts' NCAA Football on the Xbox 360 and PS3, which placed second and third with sales of 376,500 and 237,400, respectively.

In fact, Nintendo and Electronic Arts dominated the sales charts, with the Mario maker securing six of the top 10 spots and EA mopping up the remaining four. Mario Kart DS performed particularly well, with the game's 132,200 sold pushing it as high as the sixth spot, nearly four years after its November 2005 release.

US VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY - JULY 2009
Software: $436.99M (-26%)
Hardware: $280.94M (-37%)
Accessories: $130.97M (-12%)
Total Games: $848.9M (-29%)

TOP-SELLING HARDWARE - JULY 2009
Nintendo DS: 538,900
Wii: 252,500
Xbox 360: 202,900
PSP: 122,800
PlayStation 3: 121,800
PlayStation 2: 108,000

TOP-SELLING SOFTWARE SKUs - JULY 2009
Title / Publisher / Units**
1) Wii Sports Resort w/ Wii MotionPlus (Wii) / Nintendo / 508,200
2) NCAA Football 10 (X360) / EA / 376,500
3) NCAA Football 10 (PS3) / EA / 237,400
4) Wii Fit w/ Balance Board (Wii) / Nintendo / 164,300
5) Mario Kart Wii w/ Wheel (Wii) / Nintendo / 156,600
6) Mario Kart DS (DS) / Nintendo / 132,200
7) Pokemon Platinum (DS) / Nintendo / 116,400
8) Fight Night Round 4 (X360) / EA / 116,400
9) New Super Mario Bros. (DS) / Nintendo / 101,800
10) EA Sports Active (Wii) / EA / 96,800

** = Figures include Collector's Editions and non-hardware bundles.

226 Comments

  • Hellmonkey012

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 2:08 pm GMT

    gameking5000: People love free stuff

  • Quezakolt

    Posted Aug 17, 2009 9:46 am GMT

    the systems themselves cost just way too damn much.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Aug 16, 2009 11:10 pm GMT

    Man the difference between software sales by Wii Sports Resort and NCAA Foootball 10 is MASSIVE

  • grungeman91

    Posted Aug 16, 2009 10:05 pm GMT

    It's also good to see EA is getting better than before, still I wish they would drop the price of the games on the 360 and PS3 back down to 49.99 cause we're already getting a console price cut, how about a game price cut as well?

  • grungeman91

    Posted Aug 16, 2009 9:54 pm GMT

    @unknown2007


    I'm right there with ya on that comment

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted Aug 16, 2009 12:09 am GMT

    Way to go Nintendo! And EA... well you're getting better in my book.

    I see people complaining about the games that made this list and the companies that it is comprised of. Both of these companies have fine shining games that have just been ignored. Nintendo should have pushed Excitebots and Punch-Out!! more and EA has a great franchise with Boom Blox that doesn't get the credit it deserves.

    This month Nintendo gives us Metroid Prime Trilogy and Professor Layton and EA has Dead Space Extraction hitting in September, and if you support them they will actually make the charts.

  • taylormadederek

    Posted Aug 15, 2009 11:20 am GMT

    Oh good two of my least favorite companies completely own the top.

    How about they release some good games. Wii Sports Resort is a crappy sequel to a crappy non-game. I want something with substance. And not it doesn't have to have guns. How about a good puzzle game, an adventure game, or something cool like a new Uniracers (that came out of nowhere huh?). Give me good games and I will buy them.

    Man I want a new Uniracers, and none of this 3d crap. This a good remake of the original.

  • cparker2510

    Posted Aug 15, 2009 8:21 am GMT

    @crazyshooter93

    to say that all wii owners are little kids is an ignorant generalization...even if all of the wii owners you know actually do fit this description, that leaves more than 50 million others that probably fit into a more varied demographic.
    ...
    i know quite a few wii owners that bought the wii for the same primary reason they bought previous iterations of the nintendo console - games featuring mario, link, samus...the old gods.

  • the_sorrow_MGS_

    Posted Aug 15, 2009 1:42 am GMT

    everyones saving their money for Modern Warfare 2, Halo ODST, Uncharted 2, Batman AA and possibly Operation Flashpoint 2

  • itsTolkien_time

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 11:24 pm GMT

    interesting that my last comment wasn't liked...
    I just completely lost faith in Microsoft this last few years.

    I have to argue LindBergh's point about the dreamcast having a better library. No, actually you might be right.
    But one game that lasts me a long time is far better than ten games that I play for ten hours each.
    Sports games simply have unbeatable replay value if you like the game.

  • MattHopeKids

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 8:02 pm GMT

    Wow that's crazy that so many people are still buying Mario Kart DS. It really was an awesome game though. Best Mario Kart of the series IMO. Wii Sports Resort really does deserve the top spot this month, I was sceptical but it really is a stellar game, can believe how good it is. Almost every sport on it is ridiculously addictive.

  • LindBergh2007

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 7:50 pm GMT

    bluepuppy82. Sega is preparing to reenter with a console based off of Ringedge.

  • LindBergh2007

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 7:47 pm GMT

    mshake0329. You've got that right. The older systems like Dreamcast and Saturn that are far better in thier library selection of the current three consoles.

    Just I predicted there was another drop in console sales And Wii fell down to 252,000 which is so far the lowest point of the system's lifespan. If Nintendo is invested in designing more terrible,overpriced acessories for thier console then it wouldn't surprise me if the system fads away into a forgotten novelty consumers forget.

    Just to let you know I have discovered two more new patents from SEGA:

    http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/7573479.html

    Here's a camera eye toy-like patent too: http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/7559841.html

  • thingta42

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 7:05 pm GMT

    Batman AA and Tekken 6 are pretty much only 360 games im getting for now. Pre-ordered both from Game, Might get dragon rising though. For pc im getting Dragon age and Trine.

  • snake289

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 5:56 pm GMT

    The only games coming out by the end of this summer is the possible sleeper hit Wolfenstein and Batman AA which is pretty stupid these companies do understand games sell well in the summer right?

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 5:42 pm GMT

    Top 20: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24851 and I knew UFC would be in it; #14 baby and obviously the Xbox 360 one.

  • scarface_dm

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 4:57 pm GMT

    I dont understand why developers didnt release a AAA game during the summer, looking at the sub-par games on the sales chart, it would have sold well. Instead there releasing these great games closer to each other which will be a problem to people because theres no money to buy them all!!

  • unknown2007

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 4:09 pm GMT

    it's a wonder why the world has gone PG. check out the top selling hardware. that's pretty sad IMO. not to mention the list of top games are mostly kid friendly except for 2/3/8.

  • Zartan3000

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 3:04 pm GMT

    There are plenty of good games...But these figures don't count second hand games and I bet they don't count downloaded games bought on PSN and Xbox live. The fact that DS and Wii lead the pack doesn't surprise me either..since these are the platforms with the largest 'mass appeal' f(or lack of a better phrase). Don't think this spells doom for the industry by any means...retail sales are down across the board in every industry...sign of the times I guess...but to be on the safe side...Go out and BUY SOME GAMES!

  • Nintenkid49

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 2:27 pm GMT

    not enough good games. Last game i bought was Wii sports resort.

  • ChAoS_UNLEASHD

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 1:56 pm GMT

    http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=4801

  • stewiegriffin20

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 1:38 pm GMT

    Game sales down because there are no good games worth buying.

  • hannify

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 1:01 pm GMT

    lol wii sports resort is owning as usual

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 12:58 pm GMT

    @rickmaster1101

    *brofist*

  • mshake0329

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 12:54 pm GMT

    Who needs new consoles and games when you have a Sega Saturn?

  • NyGin07

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 12:34 pm GMT

    man the ps3 is failing so bad. at least i got a sick bluray when i bought one...all i do is play ps1 games on that thing lol...the classics!

  • RLJSlick

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 12:33 pm GMT

    Yeap I agree, I think things will pickup soon, this was a pretty dry summer in more then one way. Madden is out now and a few more soon so I think gaming will be ok.

  • janderdarkmoon

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 12:12 pm GMT

    Not to worry. The holiday game season is almost upon us. Games don't just sell because of the time of year, that's when the majority of the best games are released. If the industry wants more balanced sales how about releasing games outside the 90 day window.

  • BessenStock

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 12:09 pm GMT

    I ditto Alter_echo. 1998 was the best gaming year as it had a ton of original and creative ideas. Today, gamers only care about the WOW BEST GRAFIX EVAR games, which is the "reasoning" behind spending $60 a game.

  • Alter_Echo

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 11:39 am GMT

    All you need to do to see why sales are down is take a look at the shelves at a local game store. There simply isnt anything to play and the rain of shovelware, rehash games arent working on people anymore. The industry needs another 1998 in my opinion.

  • ferntfactor

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 11:04 am GMT

    i blame Treyarch and all the refresher map packs. since i got WAW, all my other games are getting dusty. i keep meaning to finish FEAR 2 and gave up on the glitchy BF 1943 3 nights in.

  • XanderZane

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 11:04 am GMT

    Typical sales figures. Nintendo owned the Top 10 chart. If it wasn't for EA the PS3 and 360 wouldn't even have a game in the Top 10. Hardware sales have dropped like a rock. The PS2 is selling almost as good as the PS3. That's not a good thing. Thankfully Sony plans to annouce either a price cut or a PS3 Slim at the GamerCon. Sony waited a long time, but this may be their chance to actually have a successful holiday. Microsoft will be annoucing their price drop on the Elite, but I wonder what else they have up their sleeves?

  • NAWAF005

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:54 am GMT

    MARIO KART DS IS STILL SELLING!!!?

  • Gaijin87

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:49 am GMT

    I'll get a PS3 when I finish the hundreds of A+ games on the PS2. Or when it gets under $200. As for the Wii, the only game I'm considering in the near future is Capcom vs Tatsunoko. Although it's a bit nichey, it might give them a boost as well.

  • SadPSPAddict

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:43 am GMT

    @Rottenwood For once I agree with you man - here's hoping that NFS/GT/Tekken etc can do some lasting damage!

  • ParisSun

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:43 am GMT

    Starting with Batman:AA, we will see the 360 and PS3 start to sell more games.

  • SadPSPAddict

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:38 am GMT

    Big games for the PS3 and Xbox 360 start the pre-xmas build up in September so we may see a very different "top ten" scenario from then on!

  • grand17

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:37 am GMT

    woo hoo ps3 outsold ps2
    wait why is sony still selling ps2?

  • topsemag55 posted Aug 14, 2009 10:36 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    topsemag55

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:36 am GMT (hide)

    I wonder why PC sales weren't factored in?

  • UnknownForm

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:27 am GMT

    Not surpriseing really nothing much came out for this months.This is upsetting,unless your a Wii fan that still likes the fact that Wii games are still leading most of the sales

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:23 am GMT

    That is the power of "Install base"...it was the strength of the PS2 and is now seen with the Wii.

    If 1 out of 10 people by some horrible game on the Wii it will sell and make more money then some of the best games on other platforms...and the developers will change course.

  • xialon

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:15 am GMT

    Nintendo has got this stuff down.

    They always come up with the good ideas.

  • Darien

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 10:05 am GMT

    So during a recession people want to take out their agression through sports gaming, and feel comforted by a psudo-japanime plumber with cutsey quasi italian manerisms... Whatever happened to a good old fasioned hug?

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 9:51 am GMT

    Didn't take long for Infamous to disappear; man, what a disappointment. That game hovers around greatness, but sank itself with repetition, terrible voice-acting, and a ham-fisted karma system. Hopefully Sucker Punch gets it right next time.

    Prototype and UFC both came and went, too. That's the real core of Nintendo's huge financial strength this generation... their games sell aplenty for months if not years; the other two systems have a week in the sun, then their games are nothing but trade-in fodder.

    The absence of Little King's Story and BlazBlue is pretty depressing, too.

  • yaya-d

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 9:49 am GMT

    my wii is dead to me .

  • jamma25 posted Aug 14, 2009 9:39 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    jamma25

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 9:39 am GMT (hide)

    Poor Sony, they only sold.....352,600 units!

  • NuKkU posted Aug 14, 2009 9:39 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    NuKkU

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 9:39 am GMT (hide)

    hey even thru all the sony platforms were in last they did do better then last month and i still think the PS3 Slim or a price drop will be announced at Gamescom so i think we may seem a LARGE increase in sales

  • KFear

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 9:38 am GMT

    I agree with a lot of you, this should come to no surprise. The economy is in the tank, and it will be throughout the Christmas season. I'd be a little worried if I were nintendo while heading into the holiday season. Look at it this way, people aren't buying many of the new games that are coming out for it, and it's like-wise for the DS, too. I feel that all Wii players and DS owners are getting frustrated. Still, a new Mario and Zelda will help, but i still don't see any "new" ip's from them. I think 360 will catch up in game sales. we shall see.

  • TheBlackSpeed

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 9:34 am GMT

    Software sales should have been expected. Did people really think we'd outsell the past month(s) when..NOTHING has come out. The only thing being pushed out is DLC, and even that has its limits. Once more games start being pushed out maybe the gaming market will get that spark it dangerously needs but until then..I'm pretty sure people are going to continue to keep their already bought games close but their wallets closer..Get with it gaming industry. Get with it.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!