NPD: April Video Game Disc Sales Up 8%
May 22, 2020
Sales of packaged-media video games for consoles and hand-held devices reportedly topped $251 million in the four-week April retail period, ended May 2, an increase of 8% from $232.4 million during the previous-year period.
The uptick in software sales was largely driven by stay-at-home gamers buying content on the Internet due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic shuttering most retailers, including GameStop.
The two top sellers in April were Nintendo’s March release Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Switch and Square Enix’s new release Final Fantasy VII Remake, exclusively for PlayStation 4. Another popular title, NBA 2K20 from Take-Two Entertainment has reportedly sold more than 12 million units since launching on Sept. 6, 2019 — up 33% from the previous title, NBA 2K19.
“We believe that robust Internet spending was largely offset by store closures and curbside service across much of the country, with room left over for year-over-year retail growth in April following a breakout March performance,” Michael Pachter, media analyst with Wedbush Securities in Los Angeles, wrote in a May 22 note.
Pachter, who disclosed the NPD data, revealed that about 411,000 PS4 consoles were sold in April, exceeding his estimate of 235,000 units. Consumers bought 329,000 Xbox One units, topping the analyst’s 175,000 unit estimate.
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The popular Nintendo Switch device continues to lead the market with 808,000 units sold — double Pachter’s 400,000 unit estimate.
“The Switch’s status as a must-have item among many stay-at-home consumers drove a terrific April figure that would have been meaningfully higher if not for widespread sellouts throughout the month,” Pachter wrote. “The Switch led industry unit sales for the 17th consecutive month.”
Sony and Microsoft plan to launch new-generation PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, respectively, this fall/winter.
NEWS! Michael Pachter is a retard