For the first time in ages, U.S. video game industry sales took a sizable hit.
An overall lack of available inventory at retail for new console hardware, including the Sony Playstation 5, Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch OLED sent November video game hardware sales off a cliff for a 38% decline over last year. According to the NPD Group, overall consumer spending across video game hardware, content, and accessories fell 10% last month. Year-to-date spending sits at $52.9 billion for the first 11 months of 2021, a 9% spike over last year. But, inventory shortages could wipe out gains as we head toward the final days of the year.
As usual, November was Call of Duty season as Activision’s Call of Duty: Vanguard blasted its way onto the scene to instantly become the best-selling game of the month and the second-best-selling game of the year behind last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War that has continued to do big business. If there is any doubt as to why “Call of Duty season” is an unofficial moniker for the month, this marks the 14th consecutive year a Call of Duty game has topped the charts upon release.
Top 10 Console Video Games: November 2021
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (Activision Blizzard)
- Battlefield 2042 (Electronic Arts)
- Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl (Nintendo)
- Forza Horizon 5 (Microsoft)
- Madden NFL 22 (Electronic Arts)
- Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo)
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Square Enix)
- FIFA 22 (Electronic Arts)
- Far Cry 6 (Ubisoft)
- NBA 2K22 (Take-Two Interactive)
According to Sensor Tower, the top mobile games in terms of revenue were Candy Crush Saga, Coin Master, Roblox, Garena Free Fire, Genshin Impact, Pokémon GO, Call of Duty: Mobile, Clash Royale, Homescapes, and Bingo Blitz.
The hardware shortage also forced a hit in the accessories category with a 20% decline in November versus 2020.
The NPD Group compiles its data using its monthly POS tracking services, as well as consumer data from its other trackers and reports. Sensor Tower contributes mobile spending data.
While new consoles may be hard to come by this month, Call of Duty: Vanguard is expected to enlist new recruits as the game gets a seasonal update — Festive Fervor — beginning this week.
