NBA2K20

It’s becoming a familiar story that repeats itself month after month: video game sales are sliding, but there are bright spots and better times ahead.

Last month, NBA2K20 hit stores, where it was welcomed by a massive consumer response, instantly becoming the year’s best-selling game and securing a spot in the record books with the most launch-month sales of any sports video game in history, surpassing the record set by its predecessor, NBA2K19.

According to the NPD Group, overall sales for the entire video game category — including hardware, software, and accessories — was $1.2 billion, an 8% decline versus last year. In terms of overall software sales, this September’s $732 million was a 4% decrease from the same period last year.

https://youtu.be/ZLrtNIYcmiE

TOP 20 VIDEO GAME TITLES | SEPTEMBER 2019

  1. NBA 2K20 | Take 2 Interactive
  2. Borderlands 3 | Take 2 Interactive
  3. FIFA 20 | Electronic Arts
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Nintendo
  5. Madden NFL 20 | Electronic Arts
  6. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint | Ubisoft
  7. Gears 5 | Microsoft
  8. Code Vein | Bandai Namco Games
  9. NHL 20 | Electronic Arts
  10. Mario Kart 8 | Nintendo
  11. Minecraft | Multiple
  12. Grand Theft Auto V | Take 2 Interactive
  13. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Nintendo
  14. Spyro Reignited Trilogy | Activision Blizzard
  15. Red Dead Redemption II | Take 2 Interactive
  16. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege | Ubisoft
  17. Plants vs Zombies: Battle For Neighborville | Electronic Arts
  18. Marvel’s Spider-Man | Sony
  19. Catherine | Atlus
  20. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Nintendo

Year-to-date software sales are flat at $3.9 billion, and overall spending across video game hardware, software, accessories, and game cards is down 6% at $8.3 billion.

The biggest decrease is a 22% drop in hardware sales (a repeat of August), continuing the downward trend as we near the end of the cycle for current-generation systems and look ahead to the next-gen systems that will begin launching late next year. Gains continue for Nintendo Switch, which is the best-selling system of the year.

With big titles in the pipeline for fall, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and new installments of the Pokémon franchise, the gaming industry should see a bit of a boost moving into the holiday season.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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