Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Mass Effect 2 takes silver as Jan. sales slip 13% - NPD

New Super Mario Bros. Wii retains top slot in monthly software chart, Xbox 360 regains edge on PS3 in hardware sales.

As much as the gaming industry would like to put 2009 and its lengthy sales slump behind it, 2010 got off to a most familiar start. The industry-tracking NPD Group today released its US retail sales figures for January, showing that overall game revenues were down 13 percent year-over-year for the month, totaling $1.17 billion.

Mass Effect 2 put up a good fight but ultimately fell short of toppling New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Mass Effect 2 put up a good fight but ultimately fell short of toppling New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Much of the decline was attributable to sluggish hardware numbers, with January's $353.7 million of combined system sales representing a 21 percent drop from the first month of 2009. Software sales were down 12 percent year-over-year to $597.9 million, while accessories actually posted a growth of 2 percent, ending the month with $217 million in retail sales.

The Wii and DS topped the hardware charts as usual, selling 465,800 and 422,200 units, respectively. The battle for bronze was a little more interesting, as the Xbox 360 regained third place from the PlayStation 3, outselling Sony's resurgent next-generation platform 322,800 to 276,900.

Part of the credit for the Xbox 360's hardware success can go to Electronic Arts' Mass Effect 2, which debuted exclusively on Microsoft's console and the PC last month. The BioWare-developed role-playing game sold 572,100 copies, good enough for second on the software charts.

However, the latest adventure for Commander Shepard and crew could not wrest the top spot from reigning champ New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Nintendo's four-player side-scrolling platformer enjoyed its second month at the top of the charts with 656,700 units sold. It had plenty of corporate company, as Nintendo's evergreen titles Wii Fit Plus (third place), Mario Kart Wii (fifth place), and Wii Sports Resort (sixth place) also made the top 10.

Activision's blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 also showed continued strength at retail, with the Xbox 360 version selling 326,700 copies, good enough for fourth overall. Meanwhile, the PS3 edition of the game finished in seventh place with 259,000 units sold.

Mass Effect 2 wasn't the only new face, as a trio of new releases rounded out the top 10. EA's other big debut of the month, Army of Two: The 40th Day, sold 246,500 on the Xbox 360 to make eighth place. THQ's new action franchise Darksiders also had a strong debut on Microsoft's console, with the Xbox 360 edition finishing in 10th place with 171,200 sold. Finally, Ubisoft's Just Dance broke into the NPD's top 10 list for the first time, with the casual Wii game selling 191,900 copies for the month.

US VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY - JANUARY 2010
Hardware: $353.7 million (-21%)
Software: $597.9 million (-12%)
Accessories: $217 million (2%)
Total Games: $1.17 billion (-13%)

TOP-SELLING HARDWARE - JANUARY 2010
Wii: 465,800
Nintendo DS: 422,200
Xbox 360: 332,800
PlayStation 3: 276,900
PSP: 100,100
PlayStation 2: 41,600

TOP-SELLING SOFTWARE SKUs - JANUARY 2010
Title / Platform / Publisher / Units**
1) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Wii / Nintendo / 656,700
2) Mass Effect 2 / X360 / Electronic Arts / 572,100
3) Wii Fit Plus w/ Balance Board / Wii / Nintendo / 555,700
4) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 / X360 / Activision / 326,700
5) Mario Kart Wii w/Wheel / Wii / Nintendo / 310,900
6) Wii Sports Resort w/Wii MotionPlus / Wii / Nintendo / 297,600
7) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 / PS3 / Activision / 259,000
8) Army of Two: The 40th Day / X360 / Electronic Arts / 246,500
9) Just Dance / Wii / Ubisoft / 191,900
10) Darksiders / X360 / THQ / 171,200

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

282 Comments

  • MoonMarvel

    Posted Feb 22, 2010 9:33 pm GMT

    Sony needs to do something. Evem after a massive price drop it still sells low. What else can they do?

  • RedReckoning

    Posted Feb 17, 2010 11:42 am GMT

    @LindBergh2007 You said Bayonetta sold 1 million units worldwide. This article is of U.S. sales. That is why it is not included in this article

  • larryb007

    Posted Feb 16, 2010 5:22 pm GMT

    yahhhhhh at least the ps3 beat the ps2 hahahaha

  • LindBergh2007

    Posted Feb 16, 2010 2:19 pm GMT

    lamprey263.

    This is a sham. Bayonetta has already sold 1 million units worldwide. Why won't they include it in this article?

  • richioso

    Posted Feb 16, 2010 7:05 am GMT

    Get over it, not everybody has the amount of time it takes to play through ME2 and enjoy it, for these people we shorter games like Mario, bayonnetta, MW2 and such.

    And I don't mean to be too obvious but jaysus, STOP MOANING ABOUT THE CHART, its a list of the amount of games sold, not a barometer of the relative worth of the titles listed.

    I for one hope to god they keep making Mario games as long as they're good.

    I've played the recent Mario games on my nephews Wii and they're still quite enjoyable, along with those Lego games(Indiana Jones one particularly)

  • ParisSun

    Posted Feb 16, 2010 6:14 am GMT

    ME2 came out the last week in Jan., those are damn good numbers for the exclusive game.

  • brosim1104

    Posted Feb 15, 2010 6:56 pm GMT

    i ve got to say that when sony's Playstations were dominating the charts they were all going crazy and were flaming about Ninty Sega and MS. now that the PS3 is last they all go like ''so what'', ''no big deal'' and stuff like that! Instead of looking the numbers go play games and stop fanatizing because you are loosing the meaning of gaming (which is having fun btw). there are people out there that have never played games like Zelda or Halo and they're calling themselves gamers! Finally the industry grow enough to support 3 consoles with a lot of good games to play and 2 handhelds! this is only good for gaming!! numbers doesn't matter!

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Feb 15, 2010 12:00 pm GMT

    Its kind of astounding to think that in these days of HD gaming where the aim of the game is POWER! POWER!! POWER!!! that the entire gaming industries heavy hitters are consistently dominated by a 2D side scrolling little red plumber, an amazing feat when you think about all the money, recources and technological genius that goes into the standard 'Next Gen' game.

    Although i do wonder what the sales figures would have been, had ME2 and New Super Mario Bros been released on the 1st Jan.

  • RedReckoning

    Posted Feb 15, 2010 11:14 am GMT

    I love Mass Effect 2, but you've got to give credit to New Super Mario Bros.! It's been out way longer than Mass Effect 2 and its still got more sales!

  • og_jack115 posted Feb 15, 2010 8:39 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    og_jack115

    Posted Feb 15, 2010 8:39 am GMT (hide)

    nintendo sucks. mass effect 2 is infinite times a better game than new super mario bros and mass effect 2 is second, completely stupid. mass effect 2 should be number 1. f*** nintendo

  • fanaticsm

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 11:44 pm GMT

    mass effect 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Flipyap28

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 5:33 pm GMT

    Can we treat Nintendo like we do Microsoft and Windows... not count the sales Dont get me wrong, super mario bros is a good game but its just so wrong to see these Nintendo games in the chart beating games like Mass Effect 2 all the time.

    I for one, have lost the "I will support Nintendo whatever they do" attitude. as now all I care about is games, if there is a lack of good games coming out on Wii compared to 360/PS3/PC then for me Wii has failed.

    BTW, can someone answer this, why do we call 360 fanboys lemmings, this has never made sense to me

  • thetravman

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 4:16 pm GMT

    Dam Ubisoft and your shovelware. About time you make one that made the charts.

  • izmickey

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 1:24 pm GMT

    @ Flint247
    I thought you would be one of the last to make such a comment as that.

    Come on ME2 kick mario's @ss!

  • RedReckoning

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 12:11 pm GMT

    I can't wait to see how Bad Company 2 does. I'm not worried about Mass Effect 2 sales to drop. GOTY's don't do that so quickly

    @thenephariouson - Great insight. Geez Nintendo really has been selling the same thing over and over, but I guess nobody wants Mario to die. He probably never will...

  • DumpyWasteman

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 10:22 am GMT

    mA.. MARIO!?!?!?!? KILL MEEE!!!

  • KimCheeWarriorX

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 5:54 am GMT

    @ MADDjoe
    You know, you are so true. I see tons of comments on here about all this anti-Mario hub-bub and all I see are people missing out on an awesome game. Sure it's been done a million times before and I'd rather play something a bit more innovative but you still can't deny that it's mad fun. I plan on getting it for my Wii after I get done beating ME2 on my 360. Also, all this talk about how some people like to imply that they're a "true gamer" when they limit themselves to only playing games on certain platforms. If you were a true gamer you'd play whatever game you saw that you liked despite what platform it was released for. I understand that some people can't afford multiple platforms but in most cases, all I see on here are stubborn individuals who refuse to buy other consoles out of sheer pride. All I can say is, their loss.

  • KimCheeWarriorX

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 5:49 am GMT

    The sales figures for the PC will probably consist of what version of the PC game? That's right, the Microsoft Windows version. Either way Microsoft comes out on top no matter what sales figures you look at.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Feb 14, 2010 2:00 am GMT

    @andrew_ribbons,

    With over 120 Mario games to date, it simply amazes me that no one (particulary the 'Eastern gamer') has ever turned around and thought "Oh no, not another Mario", although you gotta take your hat off to Nintendo for being able to get away with it for over 20 years, you gotta wonder how long they can continue spoon feeding the same old dribble before the novelty wears off. Then again, its supply and demand, so nuff said.

    Me personally, i want and expect diversity, which is the key to gaming evolution. I dont think think it will be long before Steam and other DD services are included in these figures.

  • 64-bit

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 10:58 pm GMT

    Nintendo is dominating

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 7:58 pm GMT

    Adding to that, also really annoying that quality and boundary pushing games like ME2 come second to regurgitated drivel Mario tat.

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 7:56 pm GMT

    Really annoying that Steam can't release sales figures for PC, considering that Mass Effect was top or near top of the sales charts for a good while following it's release. Probably meant PC sales of that game on Steam alone were into the 100s of thousands and would be on that list, considering Steam now has about 3 million active users.

  • andrew_ribbons

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 7:56 pm GMT

    Really annoying that Steam can't release sales figures for PC, considering that Mass Effect was top or near top of the sales charts for a good while following it's release. Probably meant PC sales of that game on Steam alone were into the 100s of thousands and would be on that list, considering Steam now has about 3 million active users.

  • UnknownForm

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 4:21 pm GMT

    Um...let me predict the future...another Wii game will be on the top of next month's sales figure.....(little obvious)...

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 10:18 am GMT

    ME2: 572,100 copies sold! wow, not bad for 5 days worth of sales.

  • ayumi_miyazaki

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 2:33 am GMT

    I'm not an old lady. I'm a nintendo fangirl. And a proud one at that. Long live the nintendo Wii !!!!!!!!!

  • shadow_571-22541122563806274050163500801227

    Posted Feb 13, 2010 2:11 am GMT

    You're getting there Mass Effect, you can topple Mario!!!

  • MADDjoe

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 9:47 pm GMT

    @ tyco_ex

    Thinking that true video game players don't play games like Mario is not very gamer like. All games hold their value to who ever playes them, and your relation ship between Wii and the 360/ps3 is also flawed. Games like Mario helped make what the business is today. With out those games games such as ME2, Halo, FF, MGS would have never come to light. When I was kid I have very fond memories of these games and many more. The Wii/PS3/360 all hold their value in this market and keep it alive. So before claming thatt your better than them, think who is keeping your so called gamer status alive...those kids and old ladies as you refer to them.

  • Flint247

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 8:39 pm GMT

    Wii Fit Plus owned PS3? XD

    Best sales chart ever.

  • JanusStormsword

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 6:34 pm GMT

    Gamerz1569 - Quit acting stupid. PC sales are never included in these figures, so why whine about it now? Shappy acts like GS made a mistake, when all they're doing is reporting the console game sales for the month of January. They never said anything about SMB outselling both versions of ME2.

    And for everyone busting out the whole "it was only out for 5 days in January" card, firstly, what is your point? The sales and release dates are what they are, why whine about it? GS is just reporting the facts. Secondly, NSMB had just as big a sales disadvantage by not being a new release in January. 5 days of a major new release should outsell 31 days of a release that had already been out a month and a half prior. Quit whining already.

  • ayumi_miyazaki

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 5:11 pm GMT

    Hi everyone. I admit I'm partly to blame. I haven't bought tatsunoko VS capcom or no more heroes 2. I just have wii fit plus ;wii sports resort; wii music and wii play. My thing is if it isn't made by nintendo then its crap. As you all can see by the sales chart. Many people agree with me. Sorry 3rd parties. Although just dance looks extremely fun and I'm rethinking my original stance against 3rd parties because of it

  • TheLemonGelati

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 4:24 pm GMT

    Two Mario games in the top ten, Nintendo is definitely doing well. I never understood why the "Hardcore" gamers(generally FPS and pure action game fans) aren't into all of the other great game out there(apparently the games they also hate), not just Mario, Zelda, Metroid and the other Nintendo greats but also games such as Indigo Prophecy, Dragon age, Okami, Beyond Good & evil, Final Fantasy, Shadow of the Colossus, Braid, PvZ and so many more. It's not worth missing out, break out of the cycle and try something new.

  • aGiantSquirrel posted Feb 12, 2010 4:22 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    aGiantSquirrel

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 4:22 pm GMT (hide)

    lol, Microsoft tries so hard with their halo and Mass effect, but they will always get owned by mario,lol. Close call tho.

  • aGiantSquirrel

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 4:20 pm GMT

    What? Wii Sports is STILL on there?!?!

  • Tripleseed

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 4:14 pm GMT

    coaltango: I doubt Heavy Rain will fare very well. That's not to say that it's a bad game, it's just not a game for everyone.

  • coaltango

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 4:05 pm GMT

    I think heavy rain should be a difference make in next months report

  • Sonic_Wolfe

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 3:35 pm GMT

    Bummer ME2 didnt get gold, but silver is still a good place, espesh next to the short fat italian plumber we all HATE! Sonic FTW!!!

  • TTDog

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 3:29 pm GMT

    @im-a-roustabout: Another Sony fanboy trait... very selective memories... anything that doesn't conform to their own warped opinion... never happened.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 3:20 pm GMT

    sad, Bayonetta didn't make the list, it was a great game

  • tyco_ex

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 3:15 pm GMT

    @ MADDjoe:

    Nintendo gave a bunch of random people who don't normally play video games what they wanted. All the gamers I know with Wii's, including myself, have around 4 games. Mario kart, SSBB, and maybe a couple more. This is terrible for us, the real gamers. All this says is that games should be mass marketed to little kids and old ladies, ignoring what true video game players want.

    It's like pop music vs. real music. Wii is britney spears, ps3/360 is metallica.

  • Racebannon_

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 3:08 pm GMT

    New Super Mario Bros. is just a good, fun game. If people want to buy it over new games, so be it. Yeah, sales were down. If NSMB didn't exist, then Mass Effect may be on top, and overall sales may still be lower. So what? It has nothing to do with NSMB. Besides, it seems like only a few people realize that Mass Effect 2 has a PC version, and although it isn't as big a seller as the 360 version or as any others on the top-10 list for the month, it still sold tons, and it's the copy I picked up (it's also the better version). That right there skews the sales. Combine the sales of the PC and 360 versions and you might be number one.

    Some people just don't get it: Mass Effect is not an Xbox 360 exclusive.

  • Pumpkinhead3

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 3:02 pm GMT

    ugh...the wii and its casual crap games (not mario bros.)

  • lillan2967

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 2:57 pm GMT

    I can't believe Bayonetta's not on the list..

  • onuross88

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 2:37 pm GMT

    PS2 R.I.P.

  • Imavnas

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 2:17 pm GMT

    @glaceya

    Not as popular or well-received? Uncharted 2 is still on the top 10 best games of all time on both metacritic and game rankings. Even fan wise, on gamefly, it's the highest rated fan game, now just recently tied with Mass Effect 2. The problem with PS3 sell through rates is the # of gamers with PS3's. For quite a few years, the PS3 was out of reach financially for many hardcore gamers (Sony also had a stick up their butt), and only when it came down last year to $300 did it become an accessible piece of hardware for fans. Heck, it's the reason MW2 sold so damn well on the 360 a compared to the PS3. It wasn't XBL, because had that been the reason, the # of units sold on PS3 wouldn't have reached a million themselves. It was simply the installed userbase. "All my friends play MW2 on XBL, so let me get it for 360". Once Sony gets a larger installed GAMER base, not simply owners (as many buy PS3's just as a Blu-Ray Player), we'll see the game sales for PS3, (regardless of review), go up.

    @raahsnavj

    Although the argument is tired and old, there's some modicom of truth to it. I've never had RROD happen to me, thankfully, but I have at least 4 or 5 buddies of mine who are on their 2nd to 5th 360's, some of which they've had to purchase themselves. Their definitely not making a ton of sales off of this, but it's a guarantee that SOME sales are RROD related; their wouldn't have been a need for a guarantee otherwise.

  • WetWill3063

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 2:12 pm GMT

    @nazgul9910

    Thats because I own both Mass Effects for PC so how about you think before you open your mouth idiot.

  • room234

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 2:08 pm GMT

    grognard-

    It's funny to blame Nintendo for non-innovation when it has Sony and Microsoft scrambling to come up with their own motion control games. The more honest thing to say would have been that they don't come up with innovations you want.

    Granted, the innovation in NSMB is next to zero, but if you just take in a little more of the big picture I think Nintendo has generated more innovation between the DS and Wii this generation than Sony and Microsoft combined.

  • room234

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 1:57 pm GMT

    orangefsh-

    That's a good point, but let's also remember that New Mario had been out for 2+ months when Mass Effect 2 was released (including the holiday season when everyone and their dog with a Wii got a copy of that game for Christmas).

    And also, Mass Effect 2 has a PC version, splitting sales between the 360 and PC. I bought my version on the PC, 'cause it's basically a no-brainer if you've got the hardware to run it.

    So there's lots of variables that make the argument between NSMB and ME 2 basically idiotic.

  • glaceya

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 1:52 pm GMT

    y'all should stop hatin on the Wii.
    as for activity based gaming system it is the best.
    Mario bros ai one of the only franchises that apeal to all generations from 4 to 40. sony and ms have no gaming franchises that can boast that gaming audence.
    but games like wii fit, ea active and wii sports are a unique gaming experience to the wii and no other system can duplicate that experience and anyone can pick it up and play
    thats why Nintendo is on top, but with project natal and sony's motion control, things might change....is ms and sony put it an accessible price point.

  • Hinduce

    Posted Feb 12, 2010 1:33 pm GMT

    Just Dance! For realz?!? New Super Mario Bros. Wii i can understand (somewhat, i guess) but how did Just Dance even get on the list? That's something like "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop, no one will know".

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!