UPDATE: Video Game Sales Take Another Tumble In May - NPD
12 6월 2009 - 8:47AM
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.
Despite industry sales dipping below $1 billion for the first
time since August 2007, the NPD results mostly met analyst
expectations, which is 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.
Video game console sales slip was more significant, down 30%, to
$302.5 million. Nintendo's DS led the category with 650,000 units
sold, which is about 43% higher than a year ago. Meanwhile, sales
of the Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Xbox 360 were off 5%, while Sony
Corp.'s (SNE) PS3 sale slipped 37%. However, each fared better than
consensus expected.
Wii console sales fell 55% to 289,000, which was slightly below
expectations.
"The videogame industry continues to struggle with difficult
comparisons to last year," NPD analyst Anita Frazier said.
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