Video game sales are still record one year after the COVID-19 pandemic caused many people to stay indoors. The NPD group has estimated that spending on video games in the US increased by 18% in March 2021 compared to a year earlier, reaching a new record of 5.6 billion dollars. Hardware sales, in particular, rose 47% to $ 680 million, reaching a record high in March that has not been reached since 2008 – yes, the heyday of the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360.
You won’t be surprised to hear that the new consoles have helped fuel the growth of hardware, but not everything depends on the new models. PlayStation 5 is the best-selling console in US history in both dollars and units, NPD said. However, it was not the strongest seller in March – this honor returned to the four-year-old Nintendo Switch, which surpassed the PS5 in volume. NPD did not mention the performance of Xbox Series X or S.
Sony’s PS5 DualSense controller has driven accessory sales in dollar terms.
The games could provide information on why the Switch has stayed ahead, despite stronger competition from a technical point of view. Although it won’t surprise you to hear that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War surpassed game sales for March and quarter, the second most popular game was just Switch Monster Hunter Rise. Furthermore, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still sixth on the list, despite its launch in April 2017. The switch has exclusives that continue to bring people in and it wouldn’t be surprising if the combination of a children’s game library and a lower price made it a accessory for parents eager to entertain their children.
Meanwhile, the PS5 and new Xbox are hampered by the combination of short supply and higher prices. Currently, they attract most enthusiasts and early adopters. This should change as the shortage decreases and prices drop, but you may not see it as it dethrones the Switch soon.
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