After over a decade, Walmart has decided to begin providing its U.S. sales data to outside parties, meaning research firms such as Nielsen Co. and NPD could finally have access to video game sales numbers from the prominent retail giant, reports Advertising Age. For the last 10 years, NPD has been unable to provide data for retail game sales at Walmart and its related Sam's Club stores, leaving a significant gap in all of the company's game sales estimates. With this new data, the firm could provide to its clients an even more detailed look at how video games perform at retail in the U.S. Nielsen has already confirmed that it will start providing Walmart and Sam's Club data to its clients in "a few months," though NPD has not yet made a statement regarding how or when it will start intergrating Walmart sales numbers. However, Nielsen confirmed to Advertising Age that it is not the only group that will receive Walmart's data. Last month, Walmart announced a partnership with cloud gaming service Gaikai to provide demos of Electronic Arts PC games, which can then be purchased through the retailer's website.

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So US traking going to get more accurate soon?

It's about time. that's good to hear.

gratz NPD. what % of the market do you think they'll have covered now? 80-90%??

Who buy games at Wal-Mart. I buy my games from nothing less than Best Buy or Amazon. I buy games from GameStop for the most part, but never Wal-Mart.

I believe walmart accounts for over 25% of video game sales in America, at least in the early 2000s. Can't find any more recent data.

that's great news but this shows how often i live under a rock as i though that info was always available!

Yea I thought they always had this. Is vgchartz gonna benefit from this?

if you'd thought you seen high 360 NPDs past months you aint seen nothing yet

This is very good news!

That will remove the largest single source of inaccuracy in NA nos imo. Why the change of heart? Less waiting for shipped figures and press releases to give us an idea on Wallyworld's promos. Nice find zarx.