Video Games retail / e-tail sales in U.S. August 2014

Since February 2014, monthly sales across hardware, software, and accessories have increased each month versus the prior 2013 monthly sales. Year-to-date sales of hardware, software and accessories are up 7 percent vs. the same time period last year (January - September).

NPD Group's U.S. Games Industry Sales (New Physical Sales Channel*) - September 2014

5-week month; Reporting Period 08/31/14 through 10/04/14

Hardware

Hardware growth of 136 percent vs. September 2013 is the highest growth rate seen this year and, as seen in previous months, was driven by new console hardware sales of PS4 and Xbox One. Console hardware, specifically, was up over 200 percent versus September 2013.

Eighth generation console hardware represented over 85 percent of overall hardware sales in September, which is the highest percentage seen in a single month since the PS4 and Xbox One launched in November 2013.

Software

It is important to note that September 2013 was the best performing September on record for new physical video game software sales, driven by the launch of Grand Theft Auto V, therefore making for difficult comparisons for this September to last.

The launch of Activision-published and Bungie-developed Destiny in September 2014 proved successful in a number of ways: year-to-date through September data it is the top-selling video game on a unit basis, making it the most successful launch of the year so far as well. But an even more prestigious feat was the fact that Destiny had the best launch month of all-time for any new IP in video game software.

Demonstrating the size of Grand Theft Auto V's success last year, the total units across the top 10 games this September totaled only 59 percent of the top 10 games last year. Interestingly, when taking out Grand Theft Auto V and the Destiny sales increased when looking at top 2 through 9 games only. This is an indication that sales decline this year were rooted in a poor comparison to last September's behemoth, Grand Theft Auto V.

The launch of EA's Sims 4 ranked ninth across new physical game sales and helped improve physical PC Game sales by over 40 percent over last September.

NWU Hyrule Warriors would make the top ten software list when ranked on an SKU basis, and ranked number 11 when ranking by top titles.

Accessories

Video Game Accessory growth rate of 33 percent in September 2014 was the largest year-over-year growth so far in 2014, and was driven by strong double-digit increases across four accessory types: Point & Subscription Cards, Gamepads, Headsets/Headphones, and Power Supplies.