NEW YORK, N.Y. - U.S. retail sales of new video game hardware, software and accessories fell 25 per cent in October, marking the 11th straight month of declining sales for physical game products, according to a report from NPD Group.
Many gamers are waiting for big holiday releases such as Activision's "Call of Duty: Black Ops II."
NPD said sales fell to $755.5 million from $1 billion a year earlier. Sales of video games themselves, excluding PC titles, fell 25 per cent to $432.6 million. Sales of hardware such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 fell 37 per cent to $187.3 million. Sales of accessories, meanwhile, grew 5 per cent to $135.6 million.
Thursday's study from NPD Group tracks sales of new physical products — about 50 per cent of the total spending. Excluded are sales of used games and rentals as well as digital and social-network spending.
NPD also listed the top-selling games in October:
1. "NBA 2K13," Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.
2. "Resident Evil 6," Capcom USA
3. "Pokemon Black Version 2," Nintendo Co.
4. "Dishonoured," Bethesda Softworks
5. "Pokemon White Version 2," Nintendo Co.
6. "Madden NFL 13," Electronic Arts Inc.
7. "FIFA Soccer 13," Electronic Arts Inc.
8. "Medal of Honor: Warfighter," Electronic Arts Inc.
9. "Borderlands 2," Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.
10. "Skylander Giants," Activision Blizzard Inc.
