Video Game Sales Take Another Tumble In May - NPD
12 6월 2009 - 8:27AM
Dow Jones News
U.S. retail videogame sales in May fell significantly for the
third straight month, NPD Group Inc. reported, led by a steep drop
in sales of Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s (NTDOY) Wii game console.
Yet the NPD results mostly met analyst expectations, fueling
optimism that the videogame industry contraction should end by
August.
NPD reported that U.S. spending on videogames fell 17% annually,
to $540 million, the result of few new releases during the month
and a difficult comparison to a year ago, when Take-Two Interactive
Software Inc.'s (TTWO) "Grand Theft Auto IV" alone sold more than
1.3 million copies. According to NPD, THQ Inc.'s (THQI) "UFC 2009
Undisputed" and Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s (NTDOY) "Wii Fit W/Balance
Board", the month's top two selling games, managed 1.03 million
units combined.
Yet the results met the expectations of analysts.
Video game console sales slip was more significant, down 30%, to
$302.5 million. Sales of the Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Xbox 360 were
off 5% and Sony Corp.'s (SNE) PS3 off 37%, though each fared better
than consensus expected. Meanwhile, Wii console sales fell 55% to
289,000, which was slightly below expectations.
The $863 million in combined video game and console sales in May
is a 23% decline from a year ago. Year-to-date, total U.S.
videogame revenue is down 7% from a year ago.
Yet, analysts remain confident a strong slate of new game
releases, starting with this month's "Sims 3" from Electronic Arts
Inc. (ERTS) will lead to a return to industry growth by August.
-By Ben Charny; Dow Jones Newswires; 415-765-8230;
ben.charny@dowjones.com