US stat collator the NPD group has released figures for game sales in May 2011. Of course, these don't include hardware sales. Nevertheless it appears that Microsoft "won" the month.
The fact from NPD is that "Total gaming sales in May 2011 were 14 percent lower than in May 2010, including a 5 percent drop in hardware sales and a 21 percent drop in software sales."
That means the market's as weak as it has been since 2006.
According to NPD's Anita Frazier, "At the current rate of growth and decline (on a year-to-date basis) for each of the respective console systems, a year from now the Wii will still enjoy the lead in install base in the U.S., although both the Xbox 360 and PS3 will close the gap."
She continued, “Of course, new details on hardware introduction could certainly change the picture.
"This month’s story really is about a light new release schedule as compared to last year.
"As a result of a lighter release slate, promotional activity at retail and in circulars was reduced as well, which undoubtedly affected not only planned but impulse purchases.”
What NPD did say was, "The Xbox 360 platform – the entire platform, not just the console – was the only one to see an increase in sales, though at 1 percent it was essentially flat over May 2010."
According to Seattle.pi however, "Microsoft’s Xbox 360, once again, led video-game console sales in May – and jumped 39 percent year over year, according to new data from NPD Group.
"About 270,000 Xboxes were sold last month, according to the research firm, giving Microsoft the sales crown for the fifth-straight month. The Xbox 360 has been the best-selling console for 11 of the past 12 months; in December, supply shortages kept Microsoft from meeting consumer demand for Xbox 360 and Kinect."
It also let us all know that, "On June 3, Microsoft announced that it had sold 55 million Xbox 360s in the console’s seven-year lifespan. But among current-generation consoles, apparently, that’s still only good enough for second place – ahead of Sony’s PlayStation 3 but behind Nintendo’s Wii."
Source: NPD via Seattle.pi
The fact from NPD is that "Total gaming sales in May 2011 were 14 percent lower than in May 2010, including a 5 percent drop in hardware sales and a 21 percent drop in software sales."
That means the market's as weak as it has been since 2006.
According to NPD's Anita Frazier, "At the current rate of growth and decline (on a year-to-date basis) for each of the respective console systems, a year from now the Wii will still enjoy the lead in install base in the U.S., although both the Xbox 360 and PS3 will close the gap."
She continued, “Of course, new details on hardware introduction could certainly change the picture.
"This month’s story really is about a light new release schedule as compared to last year.
"As a result of a lighter release slate, promotional activity at retail and in circulars was reduced as well, which undoubtedly affected not only planned but impulse purchases.”
What NPD did say was, "The Xbox 360 platform – the entire platform, not just the console – was the only one to see an increase in sales, though at 1 percent it was essentially flat over May 2010."
According to Seattle.pi however, "Microsoft’s Xbox 360, once again, led video-game console sales in May – and jumped 39 percent year over year, according to new data from NPD Group.
"About 270,000 Xboxes were sold last month, according to the research firm, giving Microsoft the sales crown for the fifth-straight month. The Xbox 360 has been the best-selling console for 11 of the past 12 months; in December, supply shortages kept Microsoft from meeting consumer demand for Xbox 360 and Kinect."
It also let us all know that, "On June 3, Microsoft announced that it had sold 55 million Xbox 360s in the console’s seven-year lifespan. But among current-generation consoles, apparently, that’s still only good enough for second place – ahead of Sony’s PlayStation 3 but behind Nintendo’s Wii."
Source: NPD via Seattle.pi
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