Videogame Hardware Sales In U.S. Were Up 106% In June

U.S. hardware sales during the month of June 2014 increased 106% compared to June 2013, the NPD Group reported today. The increase was lifted by console, which were up over 200% and helped offset declines in portable hardware.

“Combined sales of Xbox One and PS4 are over 80% higher than the combined totals for Xbox 360 and PS3 – an indication of the strength of the start of this new console generation,” said NPD analyst Liam Callahan.

In a statement provided by Sony, the company said that PlayStation 4 was the best-selling console in June for the sixth consecutive month. Additionally, Sony pointed out that Watch_Dogs, UFC and FIFA 14 sold highest on PS4.

(Note: Yesterday, Microsoft said Xbox One sales had doubled in June.)

Meanwhile, software sales were weaker, owing partly due to a lack of new launches in June compared to May, since Wolfenstein, Mario Kart 8 and Watch Dogs all debuted the month prior, and six of the ten titles in the top-ten were the same as May’s.

“Sales of launch titles in June 2014 did not compare favorably to those launched in June 2013, which included the PS3 exclusive The Last of Us, along with Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and a retail version of Minecraft for the Xbox 360,” said Callahan.

The top-10 best-sellers in the U.S. during the month of June were as follows:

 Tracking period: June 1st – July 7th, 2014

Food for thought:

Interest in the World Cup was reflected in EA’s FIFA 14, which launched in September 2013 for 360/PS3 and November 2013 for XBO/PS4. FIFA 14 was back in the top-ten for the first time in 2014 due to interest generated by the event.