NPD: May game sales top $815 million

Industry-wide sales surge 49 percent; consoles up nearly 80 percent, software up 33 percent.

Though the NPD group painted a mixed picture of the game industry in April, its just-released monthly assessment was downright rosy. During the May reporting period, some $815.5 million in non-PC game software, hardware, and accessories were sold at retail in the US, an impressive 49 percent increase over May 2006.

The biggest increase came in hardware, which racked up $319.3 million in revenue. After enjoying a banner April, consoles roared ahead with $221.4 million in sales--a whopping 79 percent increase from the year before. The month's best-selling full-sized machine was once again the Nintendo Wii, with 338,000 units, followed by the PlayStation 2's 188,000 units. Some 155,000 Xbox 360s were sold, nearly twice the PlayStation 3's 82,000 units. NPD did not provide figures for GameCube or original Xbox sales.

Portable hardware was also up in May, rising 45 percent to $97.9 million. The returning champion was the Nintendo DS with 423,000 units--the most of any platform--followed by the rising PlayStation Portable's 221,000 units. The month also saw 81,000 units of the venerable Game Boy Advance come off store shelves.

Industry software sales for May totaled $380.8 million, a 33.2 percent year-on-year increase from May 2006, when sales slid 10 percent. Of that, $274 million was console software--a 31 percent year-over-year increase--and $106.6 million was portable software, a 39 percent increase.

After triumphing in April, Pokémon Diamond was the month's top non-PC title, with 331,200 units sold. Its sibling, Pokémon Pearl, came in fourth with 238,000 units; no other portable titles made NPD's top 10 list. The best-selling console title was number-two finisher Mario Party 8 (Wii), followed by Spider-Man 3 (3rd, PS2), Wii Play (5th, Wii), Forza MotorSport 2 (6th, 360), Guitar Hero II (7th, 360), Spider-Man 3 (8th, 360), Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (9th, 360), and Guitar Hero II (10th, PS2).

Half the top 10 games were first-party, with four from Nintendo and one from Microsoft. Nintendo was the month's biggest publisher, with a 22 percent share in the US console software market. That isn't necessarily good news for the rest of the industry, though. According to UBS analyst Benjamin Schachter, "continued first-party strength this [console] cycle is a key risk for third-party publishers...as Nintendo rebounds and Microsoft focuses on and improves its AAA titles."

However, one third party was definitely smelling the May flowers. Activision had four titles in the top 10, a 151 percent year-on-year increase in revenue, and 20 percent market share during the month. According to Schachter, the company's Guitar Hero franchise accounted for 7 percent of all US software revenue for the month.

Last, and in some estimations, least, nearly $115 million of non-PC game accessories were sold at retail in May, according to NPD.

MAY 2007 US RETAIL HARDWARE SALES (All numbers approximate)
1) DS: 423,000
2) Wii: 338,000
3) PlayStation Portable: 221,000
4) PlayStation 2: 188,000
5) Xbox 360: 155,000
6) PlayStation 3: 82,000
7) Game Boy Advance: 81,000

MAY 2007 US RETAIL SOFTWARE SALES (By volume; all numbers approximate)
1) Pokémon Diamond (DS - Nintendo) 331,200
2) Mario Party 8 (Wii - Nintendo) 314,400
3) Spider-Man 3 (PS2 - Activision) 248,700
4) Pokémon Pearl (DS - Nintendo) 238,000
5) Wii Play (with Wii Remote - Wii) 249,000
6) Forza Motorsport 2 (360 - Microsoft) 217,300
7) Guitar Hero II (with Guitar - Xbox 360 - Activision) 183,600
8) Spider-Man 3 (360 - Activision) 139,800
9) Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (360 - Electronic Arts) 137,700
10) Guitar Hero II (with Guitar - PS2 - Activision) 130,900

MAY 2007 US SOFTWARE MARKET
Publisher / Market Share / YOY Revenue Change
1) Nintendo / 22% / 139%
2) Activision / 20% / 151%
3) Electronic Arts / 17% / -10% /
4) Microsoft / 7% / 408%
5) Sony 6% / 18%
6) Ubisoft 5% / 2%
7) Take-Two 4% / -43%
8) THQ 3% / -4%
9) Disney 3% / 298%
10) Sega 2% / 31%

293 Comments

  • fiendvampire13

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 1:04 pm PT

    nintendo ds is one of the greatest things that nintendo has ever come out with

  • elite_ferns1

    Posted Jul 18, 2007 5:11 am PT

    Wow and sony fanboys told me that the ps3 was going to be an instant sucess.

  • surppo

    Posted Jul 9, 2007 11:25 am PT

    i dont care who sold what i wanna play some good games which is surprisingly hard to do these days

  • Taylor_Riel

    Posted Jul 8, 2007 11:47 pm PT

    Wow...look at Nintendo sitting at no. 1 & 2 in Hardware and No. 1 in Software. What a turnaround. Though I'm a sony fanboy (just bought a 32inch LCD Bravia ohhh baby!) it's great to see Nintendo avoid the fate that befell Sega. Microsoft must be banging their heads agains the wall...with only one entry in Hardware sales at no. 5. You'd think if they only had one product to worry about, that they would be able to build it right!!!!

  • n_igma_nsider

    Posted Jul 8, 2007 5:00 pm PT

    I like the fact that Pokémon is the top-selling title, even when Diamond and Pearl's sales are registered separately. A great franchise indeed.

  • Duckers923

    Posted Jul 7, 2007 1:28 pm PT

    thq no make game lol

  • 2TrickedOut

    Posted Jun 22, 2007 11:58 pm PT

    -7thRonin Thats probably because the ps2 is still cheaper then the 360 and has a lot of games still. Its sad to see the ps3 is still selling slow. Where are all the games sony? The wii also needs to start geting some decent games.

  • 7thRonin

    Posted Jun 21, 2007 5:21 am PT

    wow ps2 still selling more than x360... or x360 selling less than ps2... mmph ?

  • Imconfused2007

    Posted Jun 20, 2007 1:42 pm PT

    Every time I see these articles, I laugh. Mostly at the ps3 fanboys, who cannot deal with having gone from top dog to bottom rung in one fell swoop.

  • avlin1122

    Posted Jun 20, 2007 11:15 am PT

    White Mage – Flow and Rub-a-dub are 2 games that are FULLY Sixaxis. You may say that these aren’t “real” games (especially Flow – it’s like a weed-heads dream) because they were available on the PSN, but they are there and they are fun for some mini-games.

  • nev70

    Posted Jun 20, 2007 10:38 am PT

    XBOX sucks Had a bad night but writing all this crap for the past 10 minutes .................................................................................................................................................................................... Yes you do write CRAP , you said it yourself.

  • Camaro4ever19

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 10:11 pm PT

    I'm amazed that Forza 2 didn't score higher... anyways, I've had a PSP for almost 2 years and love it, it looks so much sleeker and professional than a DS, glad to see other people catching on to that...

  • Bigboss232

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 7:54 pm PT

    I agree the wii is no fad neither was the ps2 in its moment of success just admit it fanboys nintendo is back hopefully theve learned a lesson from the ps1-2 success.

  • HeartBreakKID1

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 6:14 pm PT

    My favorite system, The PS2, is still selling strong, in games, and in systems! It makes you wonder why the hell they even created a PS3! I'm shocked!

    And the PSP is still sitting tight with the best of them.

    But, just as I suspected, the cheapest system is selling the best,
    Its quite a no-brainer actually. Who the hell wants to buy a $600+tax PS3, when you can buy a DS or Wii, and some games for them?

  • THE_WHITE_MAGE

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 5:14 pm PT

    1. For those shocked by the sudden uptick in PSP sales, come on. The PSP just had a price drop, so of course its sales will rise. Their software lineup is still kinda on the slim side though. This holiday will change that somewhat, with Final Fantasy Tactics Anniversary, Castlevania remake, and God of War: Chains of Olympus. If Sony is smart, they will drop the price again around October or November. I think 149.99 will be the magic number for them. Again, IF Sony is smart.....
    2. The Wii is not a fad! Enough with this argument. While it may not be a must have 3 years from now, I think it will do just fine. This fall Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3, Super Smash Brawl, and next year the inevitable Mario Kart, Fire Emblem, Crystal Chronicles. 3. People keep on saying these sales are normal for Sony, and that this is what happened the last two times before Sony became the market leader. Partially true, but Sony lacks two things this time that it had both the other times: a head start and almost all the exclusives. This time Sony was way behind, holding back so they could copy Nintendo's innovative idea of a motion controller. Also, Microsoft has stolen almost all the high quality exclusives. Is Killzone (especially if it is like the first one), FF 13, and MGS4 (which it has been hinted might not be Sony-exclusive in the end) enough to push 100 million systems over the next 6 years? I am not seeing it. 4. To ThatOneKid7, I have heard of Chrono Cross and played it. And Chrono Trigger was a much better game plot-wise and gameplay-wise. No, it didn't have amazing FMV sequences, but it was much better than Cross by a longshot. And even putting either of those games in an analogy to the PS3 is an insult to the series. PS3 right now is simply not worth having. It has literally a total of 3 good games for it (Motorstorm, Resistance, Virtua Fighter 5, am I missing one, um no I am not). Also, why not wait for the inevitable Slim-line PS3 that will be cheaper with a better hard drive and cheaper parts? 5. Home is so overhyeped and overrated, just like the PSP when it first came out. Everyone is talking about it like it will save the PS3. It will be a nice feature, but not a must have. More likely will be a water-downed mysapce clone with still less functionality than Xbox Live's service. And LittleBigPlanet, sure, it's good. But is it going to change the face of gaming forever? Not so much.

  • ThatOneKid7

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 4:03 pm PT

    Just because the PS3 is down in sales doesn't mean that it's bad. Look at Chrono Cross. It was one of the greatest games I've played EVER and many people have never heard of it. It just goes to show you that popularity is not necessarily better.

  • kiki1243

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 2:38 pm PT

    Go Nintendo GO!!!

  • metc123

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 1:21 pm PT

    Come on Nintendo!!!!!

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 11:40 am PT

    its also funny how ps3 just barely sold more then the gba , 1000 more units not to big of a gap the nintendo ds and nintendo wii is doing perfect as for the software its a half nintendo and ms list

  • billybob7897

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 9:13 am PT

    The PSP is selling better, and I do have respect for it cause its the first handheld not to die in the face of Nintendo.

    But the DS is still outselling EVERYTHING and selling DOUBLE the PSP.

  • ffgothic

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 5:51 am PT

    It's crazy how the PS2 still sells. And there were more PSP's sold than PS3 or 360, makes ya wonder...

  • Bigboss232

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 7:51 pm PT

    lol psp out selling ps2 and 360 great for sony i guess all the psp haters are gonna change there mind about the small little hand held that dared to face nintendo. and im glad ps2 is still doing well same with wii cant wait to see resident evil 4 the wii.

  • assassinX01

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 7:31 pm PT

    "qou ps2 is still selling?? I guess cause it's cheaper now than before and it has alot of games that are also cheaper than the new gen
    "

    Look back on all of the old articles about the Sony and the Wii. In every article, Sony stated that they were using the PS2 as a floodgate to the Wii's success. And because the Wii is supply constrained, people are picking up the PS2 instead. Plus, it's hard to turn down a catalog of 2600 games compared to the Wii and Ps3's ~50 or the 360's 200 or so.

  • smoothn00dle

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 5:51 pm PT

    If there is a price cut around Christmas and PS3 upgrade the hard disk size for free. That will be awesome *v*

  • qou

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 1:27 pm PT

    ps2 is still selling?? I guess cause it's cheaper now than before and it has alot of games that are also cheaper than the new gen

  • haesuse

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 1:17 pm PT

    yeah some of these numbers are pretty unbelievable. PS2 is still selling strong which is beyond me and amazing at same time. heck, GBA sold 80k lol.
    as for PS3 i agree with sascha23, PS3 can only go up and there are 3 great reasons that will happen soon. 1. game lineup is going to beef up beyond expected in next 12 months. 2. price drop that is announced will push consoles off the shelves a whole lot faster, as well cause for more game devs to speed up and stamp out more games and last but not the least will be PS Home, the "crowning" achievement in console online gaming.
    now i dont see them getting near Wii just yet but, this is not the 1st gen of consoles any more. these machines are here to stay a lot longer than any before and Wii is a fad. in my humble opinion, 360 and, eventually, PS3 will both surpass it.

  • sascha23

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 12:41 pm PT

    PS3 is currently behind, but I don't foresee that being an issue with the 2007/2008 software releases. I also have to agree with Pachter that a price drop is looming this year which will be a big boost for unit sales.

    Really surprised that the PSP is doing so damn well.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 11:51 am PT

    PSP outsold PS-2!

  • imperial_agent

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 10:48 am PT

    People are still buying the PS2 ? in other news... someone bought a PS3.

  • brosim1104

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 10:31 am PT

    Nintendo is holding up really good!!!!

  • SergeStorms

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 9:15 am PT

    Forz 2's sales were great considering it was out only the last days of the month. With the 360's continued momentum over PS3, this has to have the GT developer nervous. PS2's sales are amazing. Sony has to consider new large support for that console. It could eventually get to $99 a pop and they can own a new market segment. Wii can have the Nintendo character, fun, party, new gamer, casual market. 360 can have the big action, hard core, graphics intensive market. And PS2 could have the lower end action hard core market. I mean, God of War 2 is still good enough for the vast majority of people. SOny could just keep pushing PS2 for this current generation and get ready for the next one with PS4.

  • encryptkeeper

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 8:22 am PT

    "Hopefully a price drop will help the PS3's flagging sales." It would be an act of pure desperation. Sony hasn't sold nearly enough PS3's or waited long enough to do a price drop to match the competition. At this point, a price drop only serves to sell more systems at a higher loss than before, but probably not enough to drive HUGE sales to help find ways to lower costs.

  • makemeweak

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 8:08 am PT

    It's terrible that more people would like to buy a PS2 than a PS3, but right now it's the more valuable system of the two (dollar-on-dollar). Hopefully a price drop will help the PS3's flagging sales. The best case scenario would be for a three way tie between MS, Sony and Nintendo in console sales, and I'd hate to see the PS3 drop out of the race due to poor business tactics and disappointing early system-life software releases.

  • thug_angel123

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 7:40 am PT

    ps3 still isn't doing so good but atleast psp is

  • brotherscampos

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 7:39 am PT

    Wii is nice, and the PS3 is too under on sales I love my PS3 and my Wii

  • rey06

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 6:26 am PT

    WOW, Pokemon is UNSTOPPABLE, lets see how Pokemon battle Revolution(wii) can do.

  • smoothn00dle posted Jun 18, 2007 6:08 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    smoothn00dle

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 6:08 am PT (hide)

    Blockbuster choose to go BluRay only. PS3 achieved one of it objective. Defect HD-DVD. Now Wii and Xbox360 will have to deal with two dimensional Sony Offense. HD movies and Games. I don't know much Killzone2 but the concept of @home and LittleBigWorld plus Warhawk rock my world. Not mention Linux, I can turn it into second development platform for work. On top of that, it is bluRay movie player. People said Console are all about games, nothing more are wrong. The nature of console technology is changing. Just like Wii changing the nature of fun.

  • MaximumD

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 5:52 am PT

    people don't understand that there's still many want the ps3, it is just that they waiting for a price drop.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 5:31 am PT

    interesting to see the "MAY 2007 US SOFTWARE MARKET"..... thanks for the report GS!

  • Samurai_Budgie

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 4:33 am PT

    Still not looking to good for the PS3... Even when MGS4, FFXIII, and Killzone etc come out, It doesn't seem likely that it will dent the Wii and even the 360's lead.

  • sharpshooter188

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 4:28 am PT

    and whats sad about this is companys are still making **** games.

    Seriously, there is so many crap games out there its unreal. If budgets are so high WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN??

    I thought since the days of the 16 bit pixel we shouldve improved upon gameplay immersion. Pretty graphics are cool no doubt but if its all bland as hell then what the point? GET IT TOGETHER YA STUPID GAMING INDUSTRY!!

  • rogermao

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 1:12 am PT

    THE WII RULE!s!! woot! Nintendo rules!!! woot

  • Glordit posted Jun 18, 2007 12:37 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Glordit

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 12:37 am PT (hide)

    WOOT! DS FTW! I still have to egt one!

  • smoothn00dle

    Posted Jun 17, 2007 10:06 pm PT

    @Diernes
    I think the problem with 3rd party games is has no style. Look at Mario, a character with style also Viewtiful Joe, Snake or God Hand Gene. They are have style. On other hand, 3rd party developer like EA, don't have those character-Zero. I felt I am playing a generic character who hardly said a word but just shoot. Just like a military training software teach people how to kill? It kinda scaryy
    =========================================
    @nader911t
    don't even get me start with "Vivs Piniata". First time, I heard about this game was from Gamespot top 10 game nobody played award. The guy who wrote this award stated that he didn't even know about the game release after the game released. No marketing, No preview release from M$'s own RARE studio. He asked M$ where is the support for Rare studio and casual gaming. This game was released at the same time of Gear of War and we knew how that go.

  • Diernes

    Posted Jun 17, 2007 9:18 pm PT

    Remmember sales does not a good game make. Just because something is popular doesnt mean it deserves to be there, people in general like stupid things with style rather than actual substance, the music industry is a prime example and the same can be said with the video game world. This may seem like a good thing for video games, but it could aliente third party developers and further coax the industry too make by the numbers crap and poor movie licenses which makes them more profit.

    RESIST!

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