January 2017 NPD: Resident Evil 7 Rises While Hardware Sales Drop

NPD, the industry-tracking firm shared that in January 2017, consumers spent $610.7 million on new hardware, software, and accessories in the United States with Resident Evil 7 on top of software. [Thanks, VentureBeat.]

According to the tracking firm, consumers in the United States spent 4% less than January 2016 where $636.7 million was spent. It is said that the lower overall spending comes from overall less hardware sale.

Below is a look at January 2017’s results from physical retailers and digital sales from certain onlien stores and publishers, such as third-parties on the Xbox Game Store and PlayStation Store, but keep in mind that there are some giants missing like Blizzard’s Battle.net.

• Hardware: $127.1 million (down 19 percent from $157 million in January 2016)
• Console software: $312.5 million (up 14 percent from $273.9 million)
• PC software: $16.1 million (down 12 percent from $18.3 million)
• Accessories: $155 million (down 17 percent from $187.5 million)

Here’s more from NPD analyst Sam Naji:

“Video games software spending increased by 14 percent to $313 million. This was due in large part to the stronger comparison this January with the release of Capcom’s Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.”

 

“Total hardware spending in January reached $127 million. That’s a 19 percent decline versus January 2016.”

Here’s more on software:

1. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
2. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
3. Grand Theft Auto V
4. Battlefield 1
5. NBA 2K17
6. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
7. Madden NFL 17
8. Watch Dogs 2
9. Overwatch*
10. FIFA 17

*Does not include Battle.net sales

Along with more analysis from Naji:

“With only five days in the market, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was the best-selling game in January. The last time Capcom had the best-selling game of the month, in dollar sales, was in March 2009 with Resident Evil 5.”

On hardware:

“The PlayStation 4 was the best-selling hardware (in units sold) during January 2017. And for the fourth consecutive month, PlayStation 4 Slim System 500GB Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Bundle was the top-selling PS4 sku in terms of units sold.”