The NPD Group has released August 2021’s video game hardware and software sales report with both PlayStation and Nintendo leading the way in sales numbers and growth compared to the same time period of last year.
The Nintendo Switch is the best-selling hardware platform in the number of units. PlayStation 5 on the other hand has topped both hardware and software sales in terms of dollar sales, however, that is primarily due to the higher price point on the PlayStation platform when compared with the Nintendo Switch.
PlayStation 5 also stays the fastest-selling platform in PlayStation’s history which is even more impressive considering the console was released only 10 months ago and is still facing a heavy shortage issue.
Sony is still on track to sell 14.8 million PlayStation 5 consoles in the next financial year and the Nintendo Switch is expected to also keep performing well overall due to the release of the Switch OLED for only an extra $50 on October 8, 2021.
The report shows overall growth in consumer spending across video game hardware, software, and accessories by as much as 7% compared to the same time period last year. Consumer spending totaled $4.4B in august of 2021 and $37.9B this year, those numbers show a 13% increase compared to 2020.
The report also shows some other interesting numbers. Madden NFL 22 is the most-selling game of August, and so far the 4th best-selling game of the year. Ghost of Tsushima is the 2nd best-selling game of August which was driven by the launch of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.
Finally, spending on accessories falling flat when compared to the sales of the same time period in 2020 at $163 million in August and $1.6B year-to-date. The Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller leads the way as the best-selling accessory of August 2021, however, the PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller stays the best-selling accessory of 2021.
