Nintendo Switch continued to lead US hardware sales in May, while Mortal Kombat 11 retained the top spot on the monthly software chart, according to data from market research firm the NPD Group.
Analyst Mat Piscatella said hardware spending in May 2019 totalled $149 million, down 20% from May 2018, withNintendo Switchgrowth offset by declines across all other hardware platforms.
WithXbox OneandPS4sales falling ahead of the arrival of next-gen consoles, year-to-date hardware spending is down 17% year-over-year to $1.07 billion.
In ablog postfollowing E3 last week, Piscatella called Switch “the most important piece of video game hardware in the market right now”.
He expects Switch sales “to continue at a strong pace” throughout 2019,Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield“to drive both significant software and hardware sales volume, andNintendoto finish as the year’s best-selling software publisher”.
May 2019 software sales came in at $262 million, down 13% compared to May 2018 and the lowest software sales for a May month since 2013. “Total dollar sales of new releases in May 2019 are the lowest for new releases in a May month since May 1998,” NPD said. Year-to-date, software sales are up 2% versus 2018 to $2.17 billion.
Mortal Kombat 11andDays Goneretained the top two spots on the monthly software chart, ahead of new releases Total War: Three Kingdoms andRage 2, whileGrand Theft Auto Vrounded off the top five.
Piscatella said last week he expects Mortal Kombat 11 to be the sixth best-selling game of 2019, behind leaderCall of Duty: Modern Warfare, NBA2K20, Madden NFL 20,Borderlands 3andStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Combined hardware, software and accessories sales in May 2019 were $641 million, down 11% from May 2018. Year-to-date consumer spending on gaming products is down 3% year-over-year to $4.65 billion.
May 2019 top 20 games
- Digital sales not included^PCdigital sales not included# Minecraft digital sales on PS4 and Xbox One included
