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US game sales slip 10%, Madden NFL 11 top dog in August - NPD

Double-digit declines return to the US game industry in a month dominated by EA Sports' football sim; Mafia II has disappointing debut, Xbox 360 top platform for second month in a row.

After months of larger-than-expected year-over-year sales declines, the US game industry got a reprieve of sorts in July, which saw revenues slip just 1 percent. Unfortunately, that reprieve ended in August, according to figures released by the NPD Group today.

According to the industry research firm, overall US non-PC retail game sales slipped 10 percent during the month to $818.9 million. Hardware slipped 5 percent to $282.9 million, software dropped 14 percent to $403.5 million, and accessories fell 6 percent to $132.4 million.

Madden 11 left the retail sales field tired but triumphant.

Madden 11 left the retail sales field tired but triumphant.

In the hardware race, the winner was once again the Xbox 360, topping the chart for an unprecedented second month in a row. Thanks to the introduction of the $200 4GB Xbox 360 two months after its $300 250GB sibling hit the market, Microsoft sold 356,000 units of its console to domestic customers.

"With Halo: Reach coming to market next week, if hardware sales react in a similar fashion to what was experienced when Halo 3 was launched in September 2007, September could be a huge sales month for Xbox 360 hardware," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

In second was the once perennial top platform, Nintendo's DS, with 342,700 units. Third place went to the Wii with 244,300 units--barely beating the 226,000 PlayStation 3s Sony sold during the month. Frazier noted that the PS3 has now had 13 months of consecutive sales growth, which began in earnest following the introduction of the $300 PS3 slim last August.

Once again, lagging far behind was the PSP, selling a mere 79,000 units during the month for last place.

To nobody's surprise, Madden NFL was the month's top game, selling 920,800 units on the Xbox 360 and 893,600 units on the PS3--a nearly even split. The PSP and Wii editions did not make NPD's top 10 chart.

In third place was Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy 2, selling a comparatively modest 124,600 units. The Xbox 360 version of Take-Two's well-reviewed Mafia II saw a disappointing debut of just 121,600 units, which was good enough for fourth place. The PlayStation 3 edition of the well-reviewed 2K Czech-developed mobster simulator landed in seventh place, but NPD only releases figures for the top five games of each month.

In fifth with 110,400 units was New Super Mario Bros. for the DS, which has been a recurring guest star on NPD's top 10 despite being over four years old. Sixth place belonged to another catalog Nintendo title featuring bounding plumbers, New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii.

Eighth place went to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for the Xbox 360, while the 360 version of NCAA Football 11 tackled ninth place. In 10th was Wii Fit Plus, the revamped version of Nintendo's ever-popular fitness trainer.

Year to date, non-PC US retail game sales total some $8.37 billion, down 8 percent from the first eight months of 2009. Hardware sales are down 12 percent to $2.71 billion, while software sales have slipped 8 percent to $4.32 billion. By contrast, accessory sales are actually up 4 percent to $1.34 billion.

AUGUST 2010 US GAME SALES

OVERALL DOLLAR SALES
Games: $818.9 million (-10%)
Hardware: $282.9 million (-5%)
Software: $403.5 million (-14%)
Accessories: $132.4 million (-6%)

HARDWARE SALES
Xbox 360: 356,700
DS: 342,700
Wii: 244,300
PlayStation 3: 226,000
PSP: 79,400

TOP 10 GAMES
Title / Platform / Publisher / Release Date / Units sold
1. Madden NFL 11 / 360 / Electronic Arts / Aug-10 / 920,800
2. Madden NFL 11 / PS3/ Electronic Arts / Aug-10 / 893,600
3. Super Mario Galaxy 2 / Wii / Nintendo / May-10 / 124,600
4. Mafia II / 360 / Take-Two / Aug-10 / 121,600
5. New Super Mario Bros. / DS / Nintendo / May-06 / 110,400
6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Wii / Nintendo / Nov-09
7. Mafia II / PS3 / Take-Two / Aug-10
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 / 360 / Activision / Nov-09
9. NCAA Football 11 / 360 / Electronic Arts / Jul-10
10. Wii Fit Plus / Wii / Nintendo / Oct-09

Source: The NPD Group

148 Comments

  • LindBergh2007

    Posted Sep 14, 2010 11:11 am GMT

    Don't believe me about SEGADRIVE?

    SEGA does have a new system planned for 2012, the arcade version will be unveiled next spring.

    Don't believe me?
    http://www.kaldata.com/comments.php?catid=4&id=55129

  • Rikufan

    Posted Sep 13, 2010 7:04 pm GMT

    why is call of duty even cracking the top ten who still doesnt have this game

  • rbop

    Posted Sep 13, 2010 3:54 pm GMT

    @sonicare

    Your office demographic is pretty much the same as mine. I think that you may be on to something.

  • Flint247

    Posted Sep 13, 2010 2:56 pm GMT

    Wow, Xbox 360 has been owning lately. o.o

  • Vorodor21

    Posted Sep 13, 2010 3:10 am GMT

    Madden...

    Suckers...

  • Disciple_Gamer

    Posted Sep 12, 2010 1:58 pm GMT

    I miss when NFL2k would give Madden some competition. Kudos to Microsoft. Patiently waiting for Halo: Reach.

  • Proorizo

    Posted Sep 12, 2010 12:10 am GMT

    I miss Madden '08!

  • MLGgamingyeayea

    Posted Sep 11, 2010 5:51 pm GMT

    cant waint for halo reach baby!!!

  • kennythomas26

    Posted Sep 11, 2010 4:55 pm GMT

    I've had no problems with my 360, and I have heard of many people through my nephew and some of friends that have a ps3 and some of them have gone through at least one, and one of my nephew's friends as went through at least 3 ps3 in one year and just went through their forth this year. The real reason the 360 is sale's are up is the fact that xbox live is pretty cool and yeah you gotta pay for but hey thats what happens when you want good quality on line gaming. It offers alot more in away.

    It will be a big turn around for gaming in the next few month's with reach launching in just over 2 days, MOH-ST:TFU2-FABLE3 in october and black-ops and AC: Brootherhood in november.

  • LindBergh2007

    Posted Sep 11, 2010 12:35 pm GMT

    IceJester45. None of them seem to have decent hardware quality in regaurds to lastibility. Also I've been complaining for two years that games cost too much to make and that people are tired of paying $60-70 for mediocre software.

    This is why SEGA is preparing to return to the console market with a $300 console based off a new arcade board called "SEGADRIVE", $40-50 priced titles and quality software in 2012.

  • johny300

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 8:28 pm GMT

    Anyway dude good luck i hope youre new ps3 doesnt get YLOD if you have one.

  • johny300

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 8:22 pm GMT

    Tell me when did i ever lie?

  • monson21502

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 8:17 pm GMT

    almost everything you say is a lie:p

  • johny300

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 8:11 pm GMT

    @monson21502

    Huh?

  • monson21502

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 7:56 pm GMT

    @johny300, the lead role of big fat liar was already taken.. so please stop

  • RageSet

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 7:21 pm GMT

    @Fusco1980

    Take better care of my Xbox 360? If I had four Xbox 360's get the 3RROD, wouldn't that be an engineering DESIGN flaw and not the fault of the consumer? I am a collector of video games of sort (nothing major) and I have an Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, 3DO and many other consoles that WORK perfectly to this day.

    What this means is I'm a tech junkie and I take care of all of my electronics. So what you had an original launch Xbox 360 that still works, do you want a cookie? If Microsoft comes out and says they are going to be spending over a billion dollars to fix any Xbox 360 that develops the 3RROD, chances are it is an engineering design flaw(s) that is causing the problems and not us.

  • MOwens9512

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 4:41 pm GMT

    No suprise at all. Nothing really dropped in August that's been on everyone's radar except for Madden. I'm inclined to think that had the new XBox Slim not come out it would have been worse. Been a pretty thin couple of months for games. Everybody's building up for the Fall/Winter wars. Guess Halo:Reach will be the first shot fired. It should pick back up and end the year strong since there's a multitude of games people have been waiting for about to drop.

  • lilboicookie

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 3:30 pm GMT

    Wow Madden 11 is #1 ????? how low were the numbers?????? and watch #1 for next month be HALO REACH!!!!!!!!!!

  • disciple_slave

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 2:57 pm GMT

    Hardware sales are going to continue to go down because of price drops and the fact that almost all gamers already have the console they want. As for game sales slipping...STOP WITH THE CASUAL GAMES. And Madden, come out with a good game and stop just trying to be par. There is a reason I keep my money, while letting my friends continuosly buy you year after year. Stop forgetting us hardcore gamers, and leave behind the casual players, they are casual for a reason and don't belong in the race for best. Create new franchises, not Carnival Games and Wii Play. And stop ruining franchises like Metroid. Don't for one second think we oversaw Nintendo pass that beautiful series off to Team Ninja. That just makes me sick. And if it doesn't to you (the reader), then you aren't hardcore.

  • blackace

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 2:08 pm GMT

    IceJester45 Also, I would like to make it known that I love the Wii--best exclusive game lineup of 2010.
    **********************************************************
    Yeah... they got it right this year. They weren't going to make the same mistake twice. I still need to pre-order Kirby Epic Yarn.

  • KiNgAlBo23

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 1:45 pm GMT

    $59.99 for madden? never!

  • johny300

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 1:38 pm GMT

    Didnt expect madden would sell this much might buy it later.

  • johny300

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 1:27 pm GMT

    @IceJester45

    It's good that Microsoft at least acknowledged the problem. As I said in a previous comment, that's better than what most console manufacturers do. Of course, Microsoft probably took this course of action to stave off lawsuits (as any company would probably do). However, that doesn't change the fact that early Xbox 360s were rushed to market and shoddily manufactured. These sorts of technical problems should be sorted out before the product hits the shelves. Also, it took Microsoft almost two years to begin correcting the problem. To me, that's unacceptable.

    The Xbox 360s design and build quality really disappointed me. I remember being very impressed with the original Xbox's specs and reliability.
    ..................................................................................................

    Agreed, when the 360 was first realesed i bought it back in 2005 and it lasted 2 monthes and one in 2009(elite) and now a slim. the elite had one RROD and was fixed im afraid soon im getting another and slim is still perfect fow NOW that is. but i heard that some slims had the same problem and i dont want to buy another 360..

  • CHAMPION6171994

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 1:14 pm GMT

    MW2 is still in the top 10! Jeez i feel sorry for all those people who don't know what they're getting into

  • Reaper-Creeper

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 1:02 pm GMT

    @ferelden
    Nope the trend is quite opposite now days

  • ferelden posted Sep 10, 2010 12:47 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ferelden

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 12:47 pm GMT (hide)

    more proof that video games are dying and people are spending more time outside and exercising

  • cajunstrike

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 12:14 pm GMT

    Methinks Tom Brady is likely happier than he appears in the caption photo since he recently signed his $72 million contract extension.

  • flyingdutchdog

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 12:08 pm GMT

    @Magma_Slash

    um ... that's not the way it works fella ... be true to yourself and accept the numbers

  • IceJester45

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:58 am GMT

    Also, I would like to make it known that I love the Wii--best exclusive game lineup of 2010.

  • blueness

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:49 am GMT

    All sequels, no new IP at all. No surprise people aren't rushing to splash the cash. Might as well be:

    1) Generic football title mark X.
    2) Generic shooter mark V third iteration.
    3) Generic platformer.

  • Magma_Slash

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:45 am GMT

    They should take out all of the 360 sales that were replacements for broken systems and compare them again.

  • IceJester45

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:44 am GMT

    @YankeeDan345,

    It's good that Microsoft at least acknowledged the problem. As I said in a previous comment, that's better than what most console manufacturers do. Of course, Microsoft probably took this course of action to stave off lawsuits (as any company would probably do). However, that doesn't change the fact that early Xbox 360s were rushed to market and shoddily manufactured. These sorts of technical problems should be sorted out before the product hits the shelves. Also, it took Microsoft almost two years to begin correcting the problem. To me, that's unacceptable.

    The Xbox 360s design and build quality really disappointed me. I remember being very impressed with the original Xbox's specs and reliability.

  • toddx77

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:37 am GMT

    They should really include pc sales because we count just as much. Also I'm sure the numbers would be better considering how once I switched to pc I haven't been buying many console games. Just a few weeks ago I bought Bad Company 2 and Borderlands from steam when they were on sale but their sales weren't factored into this as they would have been if I bought the games for 360 or ps3. I know those games probably wouldnt be chart toppers at this point but hey maybe enough people bought them from that sale than maybe this article could have mentioned something along the lines of "Bad Comapny 2 sold 10,000 downloads from steam recently" or something like that.

  • YankeeDan345

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:33 am GMT

    @blackace
    @Colonel-Snake
    @IceJester45
    How is it inexcusable? They made a faulty product but they have owned up to it. I've had RROD twice, they fixed it for free both times.

    When I had my PS2 "Disc Read Error" Sony charged me 100$ to fix it, the next time I got the same error, a default in their product they wanted to charge me again. Fortunately I had a tech head buddy who helped me fix it for free.

  • RageSet

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:32 am GMT

    @aGiantSquirrel
    @monson21502
    @Fusco1980

    I have purchased over four Xbox 360's over the years (one Pro, two Arcade and one Elite). All went through the infamous 3RROD problem and yes Microsoft fixed all but one for free (I never sent in my Elite because I fixed it myself). So realistically, I went through four, and three have been replaced by MS.

    I would be happy to show anyone a screenshot of how many Xbox 360's I have register with Microsoft as proof. They won't show the ones I replaced, but they will show a total of four.

  • nemesi609

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:31 am GMT

    ive had my elite since two christmas's ago (going on the third year i believe) and ive had 0 problems, knock on wood. is anyone still getting rrod on newer systems?

  • IceJester45

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:23 am GMT

    @blackace,

    Yeah, I doubt the veracity of the claim that the Jasper and S Xbox 360s still suffer from severe RROD problems. I know plenty of people who have newer Elite and S models. None of them have had RROD problems yet. Most of the stuff I hear about malfunctions comes from the Internet, and I can't verify any of that.

    Again, reliable numbers would be nice.

  • blackace

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:10 am GMT

    @tainted_lynx
    @blackace

    You might want to provide a link before you lose some credibility. Where'd you get seven percent? It's at LEAST higher than thirty percent. Experiences prove it, and lawsuits back it up.

    http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/176741.asp
    ***************************************************************
    It was 30% during the Falcon version of the XBox 360. I'm talking about the 360 Slim (which is beyond the Jasper). There was an article or interview out there said there was a 7-8% chance of gettin RRoD with this new Slim model. The link is out there on the web somewhere. I'm not looking for it. I've provided so many links in the past and people still didn't believe it. lol!! Go out and find it yourself. I never had credibility to begin with, so there's none to lose. When I said M$ would have their own 360 Slim in the future, right after the PS3 Slim was announced, everyone thought I was nuts. lol!!

  • aliasghar96

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:06 am GMT

    Go to vgchartz.com. XBOX 360 IS OUT SELLING THE PS3 WORLDWIDE IN EVERY COUNTRY BESIDE JAPAN.

  • PixelAddict

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:04 am GMT

    After looking at the numbers again, I saw two things... First, no PS2? I'm surprised it's not selling 100 - 200,000 units. Up until recently, that console was still chugging along, which is pretty amazing, I think.

    Second, Madden sold a LOT less than I expected. I didn't buy it (and haven't bought a football sim since 2K's stuff). But I sorta guessed it would sell 3 million units.

    Guess I'm wrong. I could be Pachter!!!

  • tainted_lynx

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 10:53 am GMT

    @blackace

    You might want to provide a link before you lose some credibility. Where'd you get seven percent? It's at LEAST higher than thirty percent. Experiences prove it, and lawsuits back it up.

    http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/176741.asp

  • VW_MKIII

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 10:49 am GMT

    Ding Dong the Wii is dead ... the Wii is dead.... the wicked Wii is dead!! Now Lets have some real games.... Halo, COD, Crisis 2, Civ V, Brink, Gears 3, Kill Zone 3, GT5, Dead Rising 2, Little Big Planet 2... everythng is so much better on the 360 & PS3 & PC! The Wii is destroying hard core gaming!! Now lets have a great fall/holiday season of buying and playing and lets do our part to bring back this failing economy!!!

  • TheTHCGamer

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 10:44 am GMT

    would you people stop buying madden its the same crap every year and last gen madden was much better. last gen maddens acutally made decent improvents every year but this gen madden was crap from the beginning and has stayed that way. this is coming from a madden fan who finally learned his lesson and hasnt bought a madden game for the last 2-3 years.

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 10:43 am GMT

    Time to bust out that $200 PS3. The wiimote HD clone $ony has coming out won't do much good. Looks like 2010 shaping up for another loser year for the PS3. Dead last in both hardware and software.

  • MachShot

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 10:40 am GMT

    @edinsaw

    Uh, you're comparing some unproven new gimmick project with a proven system seller and golden franchise?

    America's preorder chart lists Halo Reach as 1.6 million units reserved. That means it's guaranteed to sell >2 million within the first day of release. You're pathetic if you think any other console game besides Black Ops can even come close to Halo Reach. 360 console sales for September will surge.

    http://www.vgchartz.com/preorders.php?date=40426

  • blackace

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 10:39 am GMT

    @Colonel-Snake
    @IceJester45

    Indeed they could have. But no Console ever had a failure rate of over 45 percent least I never heard of any. If you look compare the failure rate of all 3 major consoles the 360 has the highest one even if you combine the other 2 together. That is by far ridiculous and there is no excuse for it at all. My problem is don't sit there and lie about fixing a problem when in fact you didn't. Some people don't even know that if you play your 360 and someone hits or move it without knowing it can permanently destroy the game playing inside. When it comes to hardware arguments I'm giving it to Sony and the Wii. It may not be perfect but the discs are extremely hard to scratch. At least Sony fixed the Yellow Light while Microsoft again fails to fix the Red ring of death.

    *********************************************************************
    Colonel, do some research. You have no idea what you are talking about. Microsoft has been making changes and fixes to the XBox 360 every since the RRoD was discovered. Anyone who knows anything about the gaming industry already know this. I'm not providing any links. Go out on the web and find them yourself. The chance of RRoD now is less then 7%. There have been interviews and articles all over the web about it.

  • Egotte

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 10:31 am GMT

    The XBOX 360S definitely created a larger surge in sales for Microsoft than did the Playstation 3 slim for Sony.

    You just CANNOT beat a $199 price tag for current gaming hardware in this slumping economy. Good to see the Wii coming back down the Earth, where it will likely stay for a long time.

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