Grand Theft Auto V Dominates US Sales in September

Nintendo's 3DS wins the hardware war.

The NPD Group has revealed the top ten best-selling games in the United States for the month of September, 2013.
Total sales – including hardware, software, and accessories – amounted to $1.079 billion for the month, up 27 percent from the same month last year. While hardware sales were down 13 percent compared to September of 2012 -- $183.2 million in hardware was sold this month – accessories were up two percent, and software sales were up a staggering 40 percent.
When console, portable, and PC games are taken together, software sales amounted to $768.6 million.
Between September 1, 2013 and October 5, 2013, the top ten best-selling games in the United States are as follows:

• 1.) Grand Theft Auto V (360, PS3)**
• 2.) Madden NFL 25 (360, PS3)
• 3.) NBA 2K14 (360, PS3, PC)
• 4.) Diablo III (360, PS3, PC)**
• 5.) FIFA 14 (360, PS3, Vita)
• 6.) Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX (PS3)
• 7.) Disney Infinity (360, Wii, PS3, NWU, 3DS)
• 8.) NHL 14 (360, PS3)
• 9.) Minecraft (360)
• 10.) Saints Row IV (360, PS3, PC)**

** - Includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

NPD Group's Liam Callahan noted that "These sales figures represent new physical retail sales of hardware, software and accessories, which account for roughly 50 percent of the total consumer spend on games. When taking into account our preliminary estimate for other physical format sales in September such as used and rentals at $196 million, and our estimate for digital format sales including full game and add-on content downloads including micro-transactions, subscriptions, mobile apps and the consumer spend on social network games at $645 million, the total consumer spend in September is just under $1.9 billion."
He also said that "The launch of Grand Theft Auto V this September was a much needed shot in the arm for the industry. Overall retail sales across hardware, software and accessories were up 27% versus September 2012, lifted by software sales of Grand Theft Auto V."
In terms of hardware, Nintendo's 3DS took the top spot for the fifth consecutive month. "We can expect a great October as well, thanks to the launch of the Nintendo 2DS, and Pokémon X and Y," NPD's report said.

Interestingly, PlayStation 3 outsold Xbox 360 this month for the first time in 32 months. The last time PlayStation 3 outsold Xbox 360 in the United States was in December of 2010. NPD noted that "The PS3’s success this month was largely driven by sales of the ‘PS3 SYSTEM SUPER SLIM 500GB GRAND THEFT AUTO V BUNDLE’ demonstrating how Grand Theft Auto V can shake things up on in hardware as well as software."
Wii U sales were also up in September a full 100 percent. "Wii U hardware sales benefitted from a price drop in September, and along with the new hardware bundle which included The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD," according to NPD.