US Games Industry Down 25% in March, Mass Effect 3 is Boss
US gamers spend a few hundred million less this year
US stats collector NPD's report on US games industry sales in March shows that the numbers across hardware and software are down 25% compared to the same period last year.
The figure across both categories was $1.1 billion, down from $1.47 billion a year ago.
Microsoft came out on top in terms of hardware, shifting 371,000 Xboxes. Sony and Nintendo didn't volunteer hardware figures, although that didn't stop analyst Michael Pachter taking a punt and saying that Nintendo probably sold 235,000 Wiis and 240,000 3DSes. He also guessed that Sony sold 325,000 PS3s and 125,000 Vitas, for whatever those numbers are worth.
It's worth noting that this time last year Nintendo was launching the 3DS. You might also make a case that last March had a stronger software line-up, with Crysis 2, HomeFront, Pokemon and Fight Night. This year we had Mass Effect 3, Street Fighter X Tekken and RE: Operation Raccoon City. You might also point out that Mass Effect 3 is enough of a juggernaught that a somewhat weaker line-up behind it shouldn't matter.
And, of course, we're another year into the console cycle.
The Top 10, as compiled by NeoGAF user Nirolak, looks like this:
01. Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC) EA - 1.18 Million (excluding PC)
02. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (360, PS3) Capcom USA - 582K
03. MLB 12: The Show (PS3, PSV) Sony
04. NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PC, PS2) 2K Sports
05. SSX (360, PS3) EA
06. Street Fighter X Tekken (PS3, 360) Capcom
07. Mario Party 9 (Wii) Nintendo - 230K
08. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision
09. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja (360, PS3) Namco Bandai
10. Major League Baseball 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PSP, PC, PS2) 2K Sports
Additional sources: Cinemablend, Bloomberg
The figure across both categories was $1.1 billion, down from $1.47 billion a year ago.
Microsoft came out on top in terms of hardware, shifting 371,000 Xboxes. Sony and Nintendo didn't volunteer hardware figures, although that didn't stop analyst Michael Pachter taking a punt and saying that Nintendo probably sold 235,000 Wiis and 240,000 3DSes. He also guessed that Sony sold 325,000 PS3s and 125,000 Vitas, for whatever those numbers are worth.
It's worth noting that this time last year Nintendo was launching the 3DS. You might also make a case that last March had a stronger software line-up, with Crysis 2, HomeFront, Pokemon and Fight Night. This year we had Mass Effect 3, Street Fighter X Tekken and RE: Operation Raccoon City. You might also point out that Mass Effect 3 is enough of a juggernaught that a somewhat weaker line-up behind it shouldn't matter.
And, of course, we're another year into the console cycle.
The Top 10, as compiled by NeoGAF user Nirolak, looks like this:
01. Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC) EA - 1.18 Million (excluding PC)
02. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (360, PS3) Capcom USA - 582K
03. MLB 12: The Show (PS3, PSV) Sony
04. NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PC, PS2) 2K Sports
05. SSX (360, PS3) EA
06. Street Fighter X Tekken (PS3, 360) Capcom
07. Mario Party 9 (Wii) Nintendo - 230K
08. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision
09. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja (360, PS3) Namco Bandai
10. Major League Baseball 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PSP, PC, PS2) 2K Sports
Additional sources: Cinemablend, Bloomberg
Games:
Mass Effect 3
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