October 2013 NPD: Pokémon powers 3DS to sixth straight month at top

The online game business had one other constructive acquire at retail within the final month of monitoring earlier than Sony and Microsoft launch their next-gen consoles. As soon as once more, Grand Theft Auto led the cost, however it obtained some assist from Pokémon, Batman, Battlefield, and Murderer’s Creed.

The business managed to rack up $791.1 million in whole gross sales for brand new {hardware} and software program at retail in October, in accordance with data-tracking agency The NPD Group’s newest report. That’s up 5 p.c from 2012, when the business generated $755.7 million in income. That doesn’t match the monster $1.08 billion September whole, however analysts didn’t count on that.

Once more, software program gross sales made up for slipping {hardware} numbers. New recreation gross sales had been up 12 p.c to $482.5 million. That’s in comparison with $432.6 million in 2012. Consoles solely produced $171.7 million, which is down 8 p.c from $187.4 million in the identical interval final yr.

“That is the third month in a row the place general online game retail gross sales elevated,” NPD analyst Liam Callahan stated in a press release. “Up 5 p.c over October 2012 on account of 10 p.c software program development mixed with a modest 1 p.c development of equipment, whereas moveable {hardware} gross sales minimized decreases in general online game {hardware} gross sales.”

Remember that these figures solely characterize the gross sales generated by new video games and programs at retail. NPD doesn’t observe digital or used video games, so these numbers solely inform part of the total story.

We’ll take a deeper dive into {hardware} efficiency, however first let’s have a look at the best-selling video games chart.

Software program

1. Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360, PS3)
2. Pokémon X (3DS)
3. Pokémon Y (3DS)
4. Battlefield 4 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
5. Batman: Arkham Origins (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PC)
6. Murderer’s Creed IV, Black Flag (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U)
7. NBA 2K14 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
8. Skylanders: Swap Drive (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, 3DS, Wii)
9. Lego Marvel Tremendous Heroes (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, 3DS, PC)
10. WWE 2K14 (Xbox 360, PS3)

It’s not an enormous shock that Take-Two’s huge Grand Theft Auto V repeated atop this checklist. It’s solely the second month for the sport available on the market, and it’ll probably stay on this chart for months to come back.

October was at all times a serious battle for second. Through the month, Nintendo debuted Pokémon X and Y, EA revealed Battlefield 4, Warner Bros. launched Batman: Arkham Origins, Activision gave the youngsters Skylanders: Swap Drive, and Ubisoft unleashed Murderer’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Out of these, Nintendo’s Pokémon simply dominated.

Regardless of Pokémon, Battlefield, Batman, and Murderer’s Creed all had sturdy showings, though Murderer’s Creed IV: Black Flag is probably going down a bit from final yr’s Murderer’s Creed III. Additionally down was Skylanders: Swap Drive, which fell to No. 8 on the chart.

{Hardware}

“October 2013 marked the sixth consecutive month that the Nintendo 3DS led general {hardware} gross sales,” stated Callahan. “3DS {hardware} gross sales had been supported by the launch of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y in addition to from gross sales of the most recent member of the 3DS household, the lower-priced 2DS.”

3DS sold a total of 452,000 units throughout October. The 2DS and Pokémon helped the 3DS line out a lot that portable-consoles gross sales really elevated year-over-year. That’s the primary time moveable gross sales elevated since February 2012.

As for the house consoles, it’s the calm earlier than the storm.

That is the final NPD report earlier than Sony and Micrsoft launch their PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. Sony goes first. The PS4 debuts at midnight tonight for $400. Subsequent Friday, Xbox One will go on sale for $500.

These costs are fairly excessive, however demand appears excessive as nicely.

When it comes to present gen (for now), Xbox 360 was the best-selling house console. It is a return to kind after falling out of that place to PlayStation 3 for the primary time in years final month.