I totally forgot to get this thread up earlier this month, so no predictions this month.

The five week period covers February 27, 2022 to April 2, 2022.

VGChartz article on NPD data:

Switch Best-Selling Console in the US in March as Xbox Series X|S Sets Xbox Record 

The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in the US in March 2022 in terms of units sold, according to figures from NPD. NPD includes the dates for the five week period of February 27 to April 2.

The Xbox Series X|S was the second best-selling console in terms of units sold, which means the PlayStation 5 came in third place.

The Nintendo Switch is the best-selling console of 2022 in terms of units sold, while the Xbox Series X|S is number one in terms of dollar sales.

The Xbox Series X|S set two new records for the Xbox platform in March 2022, in terms of units sold and dollar sales. The previous records were set in March 2011 for units sold and March 2014 for dollar sales. The previous record for units sold was 433,000 units, which means the Xbox Series X|S sold above this figure for the month.

"Xbox Series was the best-selling hardware platform of both March 2022 and the first quarter in dollars, while Switch led both time periods in unit sales," said NPD analyst Mat Piscatella. 

He added, "Xbox hardware unit and dollar sales in March 2022 set new all-time March highs for the platform. Previous Xbox bests were set in March 2011 (units) and March 2014 (dollars)."

Overall spending on video games in March decreased 15 percent year-over-year from $5.69 billion to $4.85 billion. Spending on video game content in March dropped 13 percent from $4.71 billion to $4.11 billion, while video game hardware sales dropped 24 percent percent from $680 million to $515 million.

Year-to-date sales for 2022 are down eight percent from $15.16 billion to $13.92 billion. Spending on video game content in 2022 dropped seven percent from $13.05 billion to $12.13 billion, while video game hardware sales dropped 15 percent percent from $1.41 billion to $1.20 billion. 

"March 2022 consumer spending across video game hardware, content and accessories declined 15% vs YA, to $4.9B," said Piscatella. "Declines were seen across all major categories of spend. First quarter 2022 spending fell 8% vs Q1 2021, to $13.9B.

"Continued console hardware supply challenges combined with a return to experiential spending are likely drivers of the Q1 declines.

"Video game hardware dollar sales dropped 24% when compared to a year ago, to $515 million. First quarter hardware sales reached $1.2 billion, a 15% decline versus 2021's first quarter."

Elden Ring was the best-selling game in the US in March 2022 on the overall charts, PlayStation charts and Xbox charts.

Elden Ring dollar sales grew in double digital percentage compared to its February 2022 launch month. It remains the best-selling game of 2022 and is the second best-selling game over the 12 month period ending March 2022, only trailing Call of Duty: Vanguard.

"Elden Ring repeated as the best-selling game of the month, as dollar sales experienced double-digit percentage dollar sales growth compared to its Feb 2022 launch." said Piscatella. "Elden Ring ranked first in dollar sales among tracked titles across PlayStation, Xbox and PC.

"Elden Ring remains the best-selling game of 2022 year-to-date, and now ranks second over the 12 month period ending March 2022 with dollar sales trailing only those of Call of Duty: Vanguard."

The PlayStation exclusive, Gran Turismo 7, debuted in second place on the overall charts and PlayStation charts. It set a new record for franchise with the highest launch month dollar sales.

"Gran Turismo 7 debuted as the #2 best-selling game of March 2022, while also ranking 2nd on PlayStation platforms," said Piscatella. "Gran Turismo set a new all-time launch month dollar sales record for a Gran Turismo franchise launch."

Kirby and the Forgotten Land debuted in third place on the overall charts, while MLB: The Show 22 debuted in fourth place, WWE 2K22 in seventh place, and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin in 10th place.

Here are the top 20 best-selling games in terms of dollars for March 2022:

Top 10 best-selling Nintendo games for March 2022:

Top 10 best-selling PlayStation games for March 2022:

Top 10 best-selling Xbox games for March 2022:

Here are the top 20 best-selling games in year-to-date 2022:

Archivie

2022: January, February

2021: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2020: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2019: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2018: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2017: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2016: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2015: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2014: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2013: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2008: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2007: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

It is truly impressive that Xbox Series March 2022 beat Xbox 360 March 2011 in unit sales. In March 2011 360 had 2 models available, 4 GB 360 S for $200 and 250 GB 360 S for $300, an average of $250 compared to Xbox Series costing $300 and $500, an average of $400. Meanwhile, major Xbox 360 game releases in March 2011 included Dragon Age 2, Crysis 2, Dynasty Warriors 7, Homefront, Fight Night Champion, MLB 2K11, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12, and WWE All-Stars. The only major March 2022 releases for Xbox Series were Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, WWE 2K22, GTA V next-gen port, Shadow Warrior 3, and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.

That means that Xbox Series March 2022 beat Xbox 360 March 2011 in unit sales in spite of a $150 higher average price tag, and in spite of a weaker lineup of games. 360 was also being boosted by Kinect at that point. Xbox Series is definitely outselling Xbox 360 this gen, anybody who thinks otherwise is only kidding themselves. Imagine how many units Xbox Series will be moving later in the generation after some price cuts and after big exclusives like Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6 start releasing, not to mention CoD games being day one gamepass starting on CoD 2024. 

Incredible how Xbox SX has risen up in all these months... Hope they can reach even greater numbers... Switch does not surprise to this point, only waiting it surpass Gameboy and PS4... And about PS5, well, a lame really, would be interesting how much would be the thing with normal stock supply

Don't forget March 2011 is during peak Kinect days as it boosted Xbox 360 sales from late 2010 through 2011.

Makes me wonder how much more Xbox Series would be selling if it wasn't supply constrained.

Before adjustments are made here are VGChartz estimates in the US: 

March:

1. NS: 594,714
2. XS: 554,625
3. PS5: 259,334

Q1 2022:

1. NS: 1.28M
2. XS: 1.18M
3. PS5: 0.78M

They meet what Mat has stated about the US hardware. It is just making tweaks depending on the average selling price per console. 

So Elden Ring's 2nd month on Playstation alone beat the highest grossing Gran Turismo of all time at its launch month. Let that sink in. Granted NPD February only tracked two days for Elden Ring, but it sold insane numbers that month regardless.

I swear it's going to outperform every new AAA game save for Mario Kart 9 and GTA6 lol.

Switch and XBox did excellent this month. There is no doubt that XBox is topling Playstation in the US.

However, I think this month is really about Elden Ring. It topped combined charts as well as XBox and Playstation charts. The only game that has sold more in the past 12 months is Call of Duty. When you consider that last month only had 2 days of Elden Ring sales, there is a very good chance that Elden Ring will pass Call of Duty at some point and get the title of "best selling game for a 12 month period".

Also I just want to point out that even though Mario Kart 8 only includes physical sales it is above Call of Duty this month. That's right, if you take all 5 of Call of Duty's platforms and include both physical and digital sales it is still less than the physical only sales of Mario Kart 8. I ask you, what is the real super franchise here?

I don't know. I think it does not make sense to compare it against GT. GT is NOT what it was, no matter how much some love the franchise; it is simply not at the same level and the game genre is also not as popular as before when you have open world racing games out there that attract a larger audience.

I do not believe Elden Ring will beat something like the new God of Wars on PlayStation for instance or Starfield on the Xbox side. I know GT is a AAA, but I really believe it is an outliner. 

No trying to downplay Elden Ring here, cause it is really killing it (and well deserved) but we do not really have any good comparison at this moment. Maybe Horizon... Meh don't know, I feel like the next AAA will be the real test (GoW and Starfield)

And yet GT7 is literally the highest grossing GT of all time in the US?

Sure, relative to the biggest games out there, it's nowhere near as significant as it once was. But the rankings and numbers its pulling thus far are quite impressive.

God of War won't stand a chance. And Statfield may well be the next Halo Infinite and exit most charts as soon as it enters them. Can't even see it selling over 35% of Elden Ring without a Playstation version.

Elden Ring is going for that easy 35 million+ copies sold.