NPDGrouplogoIn the most recent video game analysis from The NPD Group’s Liam Callahan, overall sales across hardware, new physical software, and accessories in April grew by 3 percent over April of last year, due to the strength of new physical software sales, offsetting losses from hardware and accessories. April hardware sales decreased by 4 percent, due to the 55 percent decline in sales of seventh-generation console hardware. After 18 months on the market for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, cumulative hardware sales for those consoles are more than 50 percent higher than the combined sales of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at the same point in their life cycles.

For new physical console software, eighth-generation consoles sales grew by 200 percent in revenue, which offset declines from seventh-generation consoles of 62 percent, and portable declines of 32 percent. Overall, console software increased by 20 percent, leading to overall video game software growth of 13 percent. Mortal Kombat X, published by Warner Bros. Interactive, led software sales in April.

One possible reason for the soft April accessory sales is the shift in the Easter holiday. Most of this year’s Easter sales were likely to occur in March, while sales may have fallen into April last year, making for a poor comparison. Gamepad sales increased by 27 percent due to the 83 percent increase in sales from eighth-generation gamepads, while video game point and subscription cards had the highest sales within the accessories category. Sales, however, declined from last April.

About the author

Phil Guie

Phil Guie

Phil Guie is an associate editor at Adventure Publishing Group. He writes and edits articles for The Toy Book and The Licensing Book. Phil also serves as lead editor for The Toy Book Blog and The Toy Report newsletter, and manages social media for The Toy Book. But of course, Phil’s pride and joy are his weekly reviews for The Toy Insider, in which he writes about video games, movies, and other cool things. His hobbies include comics, baking, fidgeting, and traveling to off-the-beaten places and making new friends.

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