US consumer spending on video game hardware, content and accessories reached a January record $4.7 billion in 2021, according to data from market research firm NPD Group.
Total spending was up 42% compared to January 2020, with content sales hitting $4.17 billion (up 36%), hardware sales generating $319 million (up 144%) and accessories bringing in $222 million (up 73%).
Video game hardware sales reached their highest January total since 2011, led bySwitchandPlayStation 5, NPD analystMat Piscatellasaid.
Nintendo’s console sold the most units, with the highest volume of sales for any platform during a January month since Wii in 2010. Nintendo’s system has now been the best-selling console in the US for a record 26 consecutive months.
Sony’ssupply constrained PS5was the best-selling hardware in terms of dollar sales, with the highest total in a January month since Wii in 2009.
On the software front, January’s chart was led by2020’s best-selling game,Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. The title, which launched in mid-November, already ranks among the top 20 best-selling games in US history, Piscatella said.
PublisherActivisionrecently announced plans to release anew premium Call of Duty gamein the fourth quarter of 2021 and claimed that theCall of Duty franchise has generated $27 billionin lifetime sales since launching in 2003.
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla was January’s second best-selling game in the US and is now the second-fastest selling series entry behindAssassin’s Creed 3. The same is true on a worldwide basis,publisher Ubisoft said earlier this week.
Marvel’sSpider-Man Miles Morales,Madden NFL 21andAnimal Crossing New Horizonsrounded off the top five on January’s US software chart, which didn’t include any new entries in the top 20.
PS5’s DualSense controller was the best-selling accessory in January, whilePlayStation’s Pulse 3D wireless headset was the best-selling headset.
