The videogame industry sales were some 21 percent lower year-over-year this past December compared to last year, according to the latest NPD Group report. Overall sales were $3.99 billion compared to $5.07 billion last year. Hardware sales were down 28 percent and brought in some $1.32 billion, down from $1.84 billion in 2010. For its part, Sony said the PlayStation had a “banner 2011” by selling 6.5 million PS3s worldwide in 2011.
Microsoft reports selling 1.7 million Xbox 360s in December, down by 8.6 percent, but still the top-selling console in the U.S. for 12 consecutive months. The company said some half of the money spent in the game industry in December, $1.5 billion, went to Xbox 360 consoles, accessories, and games.
Software also had a 14 percent year-over-year decline in December, with sales at $2.04 billion. It should come as little surprise that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 snatched the top spot this holiday season, but Ubisoft’s Just Dance 3 and Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim rounded out the top three spots. In all, eight of the top 10 games in December were available on the PS3.
1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC)
2. Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3)
3. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (360, PS3, PC)
4. Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
5. Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC)
6. Madden NFL 12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2)
7. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (360, PS3, PC)
8. NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC)
9. Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
10. Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3, PC)
Here is Sony’s official statement on the December NPD report: “According to the December NPD, PlayStation 3 closed out a banner 2011 with a bang, showing increases in hardware, software and peripherals year to date. As we reported earlier this week, consumers flocked to PlayStation consoles and handhelds this holiday season with more than 6.5 million units sold worldwide. With the highly anticipated U.S. launch of PlayStation Vita on February 22, featuring the biggest and best launch lineup across the history of PlayStation platforms, 2012 is already shaping up to be another exciting year for PlayStation.”
Videogame profits as a whole in 2011 were between $16.3 billion and $16.6 billion, according to the NPD Report.