The Division 2, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice dominate March NPD alongside Nintendo Switch

24.04.2019

March’s NPD report brings some disappointing information, and divulges just a few anticipated winners.

The NPD report overlaying US retail video game software program, and {hardware} gross sales for March has arrived. The information contains digital figures from taking part publishers, however most are nonetheless restricted to retail.

Overall spending has declined by 11% in March, amounting to $1.2 billion. Software, {hardware}, game playing cards and equipment all noticed declines throughout the month. Despite a decent February, the drop in spending in March induced the primary quarter to say no by 2%.

This is largely as a consequence of drops in {hardware} gross sales, that are anticipated on the tail finish of the present technology of consoles.

Hardware

Hardware declined, maybe somewhat sharper than anticipated, by 15% in March, and 13% for the quarter. Unsurprisingly, the Switch dominated March, in addition to the whole quarter in each greenback, and unit gross sales.

Software

Video game software program introduced in $547 million in gross sales, an 11% drop over the identical interval final 12 months. Overall, the primary quarter noticed a 2% progress in software program gross sales.

The Division 2 was March’s greatest launch, promoting extra (greenback gross sales) than some other game, and turning into Ubisoft’s sixth highest-selling game ever. This makes the loot shooter the second best-selling game in 2019 to this point.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice landed at quantity two in March, promoting extra copies throughout its launch month than some other FromSoftware game, besides Dark Souls 3. Sekiro is now the eighth best-selling game of 2019 to this point.

Devil May Cry 5, one other large March launch, solely managed the quantity 4 spot on the checklist. Devil May Cry 5 now holds the second-highest launch month gross sales within the franchise, trailing Devil May Cry 4.

The third best-selling game of March is MLB 19: The Show, breaking franchise launch month gross sales information. Kingdom Hearts Three continued to promote throughout March, and is now the best-selling game within the franchise.