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NPD: Halo effect helps Sept. sales hit $1.3B

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Oct 18, 2007 4:21 pm PT

[UPDATE] Microsoft's shooter moves 3.3 million copies in the US in 12 days, propels Xbox 360 hardware sales to first place; Nintendo touts its own record-setting Wii sales.

For gamers, Halo 3 generated huge buzz in the weeks and months leading up to its release. For industry watchers and analysts, it's more interesting to follow the weeks and months after the game hit shelves.

The industry-tracking NPD Group today released its domestic retail sales figures for the September period (which actually stretched into October), and Halo 3 posted some massive sales figures. In its first 12 days on sale, Microsoft's sci-fi first-person shooter sold 3.3 million copies in the US alone. NPD didn't break down how many copies each of the three versions of the game sold, but did note that they took the top three spots on the software charts, with the $59.99 regular edition first, the $69.99 limited edition second, and the $129.99 legendary edition (complete with replica Master Chief helmet) third.

It appears that many of the hordes of gamers who claimed that they were just waiting for Halo 3 to invest in an Xbox 360 were true to their words. Microsoft sold nearly 528,000 Xbox 360s in September, enough to dethrone the Wii and DS from the top of the charts. Nintendo's motion-sensitive console came in second with 501,000 sold, with the DS close behind in third with about 496,000 sold.

[UPDATE] However, Nintendo was quick to point out one fact about the NPD September numbers. "One thing you guys forgot is that it's our biggest month yet of the year for the Wii," outgoing vice president of communications Perrin Kaplan told GameSpot. "In fact, it's our biggest month since we launched the Wii." Indeed, September 2007 saw more Wiis scooped up by US consumer than the 476,000 units sold in November 2006, when the platform launched.

The PlayStation Portable welcomed a hardware redesign that sparked sales of almost 285,000, whereas the PlayStation 2 kept trucking at 215,000 sold. The PlayStation 3 brought up the rear, tallying sales just over 119,000 amid rumors of the just-announced $399 40GB PS3 and $100 price drop of the 80GB model.

As one might expect given those numbers, industry-wide revenues for the month were up sharply. US retailers as a whole sold $1.36 billion worth of non-PC game software, hardware, and accessories in September, 74 percent more than they managed over the same stretch last year. Hardware sales were particularly strong, with September console sales of $418.6 million, which is 188 percent greater than last year. Sales of handhelds were also up, though not as drastically. Retailers took in 28 percent more in portable hardware sales than last year, for a total of more than $126.2 million.

Console software revenue for the month was up 64 percent over September 2006, landing at $550.5 million. Portable software was not so fortunate, sliding 6 percent year-over-year to $103.1 million.

Recent months have been so good for the industry that NPD analyst Anita Frazier upped her expectations for the industry's 2007 revenue total.

"Although we've been confident for many months now that the industry was poised to realize its best year ever in terms of revenue, the results in recent months make me even more bullish," Frazier said in a statement. "I believe the U.S. video games industry will realize somewhere in the range of $17 to $18 billion for the year."

Top 10 best-selling games of September 2007, according to NPD Group

Halo 3 (all versions)--Xbox 360--3.3 million
Wii Play with Wii Remote--Wii--282,000
The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass--DS--224,000
Madden NFL 08--PS2--205,000
Skate--Xbox 360--175,000
Madden NFL 08--Xbox 360--173,000
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption--Wii--167,000
BioShock--Xbox 360--150,000
Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day--DS--141,000
Heavenly Sword--PS3--139,000

September 2007 hardware sales, according to NPD Group

Xbox 360--528,000
Wii--501,000
DS--496,000
PSP--285,000
PS2--215,000
PS3--119,000

532 Comments

  • hjonx

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 9:56 pm PT

    this game sucks

  • okassar

    Posted Dec 25, 2007 8:46 pm PT

    You can't go wrong with Halo, I'm still hooked on Halo 3.Sadly,though,I found out my friends were right.When I rented COD4,I realized Bungie isn't the biggest player(but it is making the biggest buck).COD4 is truly revolutionary, and, actually, if you play on hardcore,it's long enough.The multiplayer is amazing!!!!Well,with an Xbox 360,you get the best of both worlds.

  • NukeU

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 4:28 pm PT

    Halo 3 is just , wow. truely revolutionary

  • halocheif147

    Posted Oct 26, 2007 7:56 am PT

    i got ma xbox 360 n halo 3 dis week da only probs is im not aloud 2 play it coz its 4 ma birthday so i ave 2 wait till november

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Oct 25, 2007 2:41 am PT

    OWNED!!! HALO 3 WAS HERE..........
    u see, even with the launch of halo 3, it was still nintendos biggest month, selling more wii's than ever. that should show those retarded analysts that said halo 3 caused harm to movie ticket sales. its not halo 3, its the worthless movies showing at the cinema that just dont sell tickets. oh yea, metroid prime 3 comes out 2moro, yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

  • nica505

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 3:33 pm PT

    You have to admit halo 3 is a very fun game both online and offline i have it played it beat it love it,but i also have a wii too,all im trying to say is that when super smash bros brawl comes out i will put aside halo 3 and play brawl instead.Just think how many people want nintendo wiis just for this game HA! the sales will sky rocket

  • Unkoil666

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 12:16 pm PT

    "arrogant people don't listen, and I'm not going to listen to unkoil and his fanboy zionism."

    I did have a response to this, but I see that its pointless. I proved you wrong now you're going to start taking personal shots at me. Inaccurate ones I might add. Such is the way of the inter-web, i guess. Oh well, moving on.

    I gotta agree with you, Rowr, Mass Effect is going to be major. I'm not sure how it will sit with the casual crowd though. I don't think most casual gamers will really delve too deep into the game. I think most casual gamers come from a pick-up and play stand point where they can just jump right in and out. Mass Effect isn't that type of game. I think its going to be a phenomenal game, but I think it will be a bit much for the casuals to swallow.

    Here's to KOTOR MMORPG though. Keeping my fingers crossed and hope alive that its not just a rumor.

  • Rowr14

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 4:30 am PT

    "I just checked the sales charts and a week after being trumped by Orange Box, Halo 3 is back at #1.

    You Nintendo fans were saying that Halo 3 sales would slow down by late Ocotber, doesn't look like it"

    well you gotta remember all the poor suckers that didnt preorder, and have had to wait for stock to come back in. like me

    I clocked it on a rental.

    Ive had a pretty casual attitude and have decided to pick it up when i get around to it. Im sure im not the only one. Pick it up this weekend probably.

    also forget not that halo 1 was like the consistently selling number one title for the xbox system, even up til like 3 years after it was released. Although i dont think we will see that here.

    I enjoy reading peoples predictions for the console wars and the only thing i have to add is to not underestimate Mass Effect. Its massive hardcore following is known, but i can see it doing well in the casual market. (Which recently has had a significant growth from teh halo.)

    o yeh and bioshock is sweet.

  • PatLTornado

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 4:07 pm PT

    potato you are so right.

    arrogant people don't listen, and I'm not going to listen to unkoil and his fanboy zionism.

  • Tomdogg

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 3:18 pm PT

    My god, Halo 3 was a massive hit. Glad I got my copy. I bought an Xbox 360 long before though.

  • PatLTornado

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 2:49 pm PT

    I just checked the sales charts and a week after being trumped by Orange Box, Halo 3 is back at #1.

    You Nintendo fans were saying that Halo 3 sales would slow down by late Ocotber, doesn't look like it.

  • osleyee

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 1:40 pm PT

    the only reason halo is so popular is because the multiplayer but hey bungie did a awesome job and also help the industry out hopefully the industry make great games and so the video game industry can worth more.

  • matt_dangelo

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 11:26 am PT

    KILLURELLYFAST Halo like is a sickness. I think Microsoft and EA will have some sort DBZ like fight in the future.

    --thats right lol...i can see EA having a finall showdown with Ms, Nintendo and Sony.....hmmm i wonder what games it would be..if EA loses the NFL exclusiv rihgts ting...they are in trouble..

  • potatoesman

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 11:14 am PT

    i dont see the point typing paragraphs to convince arrogant people lol

  • KILLURELLYFAST

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 10:32 am PT

    Halo like is a sickness. I think Microsoft and EA will have some sort DBZ like fight in the future.

  • vmfstorm1

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 8:40 am PT

    unkoil666, you are so right, unfortunately I don't really have the time to experience bioshock to its fullest but from what i have played up to it is an ingenious game that just doesn't get the publicity it deserves

  • Unkoil666

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 6:57 am PT

    Bioshock? There's plenty of reasons everyone thinks it's a great game. I'd say the number one reason though, is that it actually makes you think. An example of this would be how you weigh your options when engaging a Big Daddy. You can't just simply blast away at one and hope to survive, because you won't. You have to lure them to a spot that gives you an advantage over them, use the weapon, types of ammo, and Plasmids that it's weakest against, and actually wittle away at it to defeat it. Its not just, "Oh, its got stronger armor? Rocket Launcher! BOOM! DEAD FOR THE WIN!" You're also sometimes faced with a moral decision after defeating a Big Daddy that plays into how your Plasmids advance throughout the game. Do I Rescue or Harvest the Little Sister? Not only that, but its got an enthralling story that constantly has you asking "What the hell happened here and WHY did it happen?" And the "tiny closed in environments" also help make the game great. The fact that you're trapped in this claustrophobic, underwater city that's flooded everywhere you turn, and you have nowhere to run, adds to the tension and panic set in place by the very atmosphere of Rapture itself. Everything about Bioshock is amazing. The story, the pacing, the character and level design, the Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Bauhaus inspired art style, the voice-acting, even the period-specific music. How anyone cannot like Bioshock, i'll never know. Then again, its all a matter of personal preference.

  • wainojake

    Posted Oct 23, 2007 3:51 am PT

    why does everyone think bioshock was such an amazing game i played it and beat it and will never play it again your trapped in tiny closed in environments the entire time not fun

  • Rizer

    Posted Oct 22, 2007 7:44 pm PT

    Halo 3 was top seller. Gee wiz...I had no idea.
    ...No...wait...I...knew that before it was even announced. That game had so much hype that each case could have held a blank disk and game would have reached the millions before anyone even got the chance to relieze they've been gipped. I mean, the numbers from Halo 2 alone should have predicted this outcome years ago.

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