Total U.S. consumer spending on video game content, hardware, and accessories grew 10% in September 2023 when compared to a year ago, totaling $4.5 billion, Circana reports. Double-digit percentage growth in spending on video game content (13%) and accessories (11%) offset an 8% decline in hardware sales. Year-to-date spending was 2% higher than a year ago, at $39.4 billion.
Spending on video game content reached $3.8 billion, largely due to growth in digital premium download spending across console and PC (digital full game sales excluding add-on content such as DLC and MTX).
Starfield was the No. 1 best-selling game of September, instantly becoming the No. 7 best-selling game of 2023 year-to-date. Starfield ranked as the best-selling title of the month across both Xbox and PC. Mortal Kombat 1 debuted as the No. 2 best-selling game of September and the No. 8 best-selling game of 2023 year-to-date.
Video game hardware spending fell 8% when compared to a year ago, to $451 million. Single-digit percentage growth in consumer spending on Xbox Series hardware was offset by declines across both PlayStation 5 and Switch.
PlayStation 5 remained the best-selling hardware platform in both unit and dollar sales during September 2023, with Xbox Series again ranking second across both measures. Year-to-date hardware spending was 10% higher when compared to the same period in 2022, at $3.7 billion. Accessories spending during September increased 11% when compared to a year ago, to $197 million.
TOP 10 GAMES FOR SEPTEMBER 2023
1. Starfield (Microsoft)
2. Mortal Kombat 1 (Warner Bros. Games)
3. EA Sports FC 24 (Electronic Arts)
4. Madden NFL 24 (Electronic Arts)
5. Payday 3 (Plaion)
6. NBA 2K24 (Take 2 Interactive)
7. The Crew: Motorfest (Ubisoft)
8. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
9. Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros. Games)
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Blizzard)
In mobile content, Sensor Tower reports the top 10 games based on U.S. consumer spending in September as Monopoly Go!, Royal Match, Roblox, Candy Crush Saga, Pokémon Go, Coin Master, Gardenscapes, Jackpot Party — Casino Slots, Evony, and Homescapes.
“U.S. mobile gaming spend in September 2023 showed a modest increase (4.3%) compared to September 2022,” says Samuel Aune of Sensor Tower. “Interestingly, the list of top ten mobile games by revenue in the U.S. did not change at all compared to last month. Monopoly Go! remains firmly on top, with the No. 2 to No. 4 games Royal Match, Roblox, and Candy Crush clustered together, but trailing Scopely’s hit by a wide margin. Spend in Pokémon Go came down from the high of August, Pokémon Go’s World Championships month, but the augmented reality game managed to stay ahead of Coin Master. Homescapes, which entered this list last month, held on to its spot in the top ten.”
