State of the market
Hardware was once again a primary driver of spending gains in September, increasing 49% compared to a year ago. Mobile and Subscription offset declines across other segments to keep content spending flat versus a year ago.
US NPD HW - September video game hardware dollar sales increased 49% when compared to September 2020, to $412 million. Year-to-date hardware spending has also gained 49% when compared to the same period a year ago, totaling $3.4 billion.
Hardware
US NPD HW - PlayStation 5 was the best-selling hardware platform of September in both units and dollars. PlayStation 5 is the best-selling hardware platform of 2021 year-to-date in dollars, while Nintendo Switch leads in units.
September 2021 snaps the remarkable 33 consecutive month streak that Nintendo Switch was the market's leading platform in hardware unit sales. November 2018 was the last month a platform other than Nintendo Switch led the market in unit sales (PlayStation 4).
Software
Madden NFL 22 repeated as the best-selling game of the month. It now ranks as the #2 best-selling game of 2021 year-to-date, and is the 4th best-selling title of the 12 month period ending September 2021. Madden NFL 22 led on both PlayStation and Xbox.
Tales of Arise set a new launch month dollar sales record for any Tales Of franchise release. Tales of Arise ranked as the 4th best-selling game of September 2021.
Life is Strange: True Colors launched as September's #10 best-selling game. Life is Strange: True Colors generated the highest launch month dollar sales for any Life is Strange title to date.
WarioWare: Get It Together debuted as the 15th overall best-selling game of Sept, while also ranking 2nd on Switch. WarioWare: Get It Together achieved the highest launch month sales for a WarioWare franchise release since WarioWare Smooth Moves in January 2007.
Archivie
2021: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August,
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
