Video game sales slump further in June

Mike Bantick
Friday, 17 July 2009 12:08

Opinion and Analysis

NPD Analyst Anita Frazier puts much of the decline on the tepid economy, playing the obvious card really.

"This is one of the first months where I think the impact of the economy is clearly reflected in the sales numbers," Frazier said in a statement.

"The size of the decline could also point to consumers deferring limited discretionary spending until a big event (must-have new title, hardware price cut) compels them to spend,"

Critics will point at this and encourage Sony to drop the price of the PS3 closer to the US$300 mark, something that is sure to boost these sales figures. But is this a sound Sony move?  If a corporation is comfortable with sales levels, despite grumblings from consumers and developers, or comments from analysts, why bother?

On the Software front, here are the June 2009 figures.

North American software sales: June 2009 (NPD Group)
* 1. Prototype (Xbox 360) 419,900
* 2. UFC 2009: Undisputed (Xbox 360) 338,300
* 3. EA Sports Active (Wii) 289,100
* 4. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Wii) 272,400
* 5. Wii Fit (Wii) 271,600
* 6. Fight Night Rd. 4 (Xbox 360) 260,800
* 7. Fight Night Rd. 4 (PS3) 210,300
* 8. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) 202,100
* 9. Red Faction: Guerrilla (Xbox 360) 199,400
* 10. Infamous (PS3) 192,700

As already stated, revenue from software was down 29 percent from the previous year, but again, much of this could be attributed to a lack of a true blockbuster in the market. 

This time last year, Grand Theft Auto IV had just hit the market, and along with the aforementioned MGS4 there was Wii Fit, only just released as well as the other big Wii hit, Super Smash Bros Brawl just getting into some sales stride.