The sales totals for video games in 2012 are in and the NPD Group has released the numbers for December and the overall year, according to a report from USA Today.
The video game industry was down once again as December sales numbers were down 22 percent compared to the same time in 2011, according to sales data from NPD Group. The decline for December was in line with the overall year in sales, as the sales dropped 22 percent from to $13.26 billion.
NPD Group analyst Liam Callahan notes the similarity between December 2012's sale and those of December 2005. Back in 2005, Microsoft launched the Xbox 360, which was selling alongside older consoles like the PlayStation 2, Xbox and the GameCube.
The situation is very similar to the one we see in 2012 with the recently launched Nintendo Wii U in stores alongside holdovers from the previous generation, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
"As a testament to how much the retail market has grown, overall physical dollar sales in December 2012 are up 10% when compared to December 2005," says Callahan.
Hardware has seen the largest drop off with 27 percent drop for the year and 20 percent drop for December 2012. The Microsoft Xbox is the best selling home console of the year after shipping 1.4 million units, according to USA Today.
The Wii U has sold nearly 890,000 console since it launch in mid-November, but the system has sold less than its predecessor the original Nintendo Wii. According to the article, the Wii U has outperformed the Wii in generating revenue, earning $30 million more during its launch.
Activision top the game charts for the fourth straight year with Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Following the military shooter is EA's Madden 13 and the only first party game to make the top 10, Microsoft's Halo 4.
Here are the top ten selling games in the United States for 2012:
1.Call of Duty: Black Ops II(Activision)
2.Madden NFL 13(Electronic Arts)
3.Halo 4(Microsoft)
4.Assassin's Creed III(Ubisoft)
5.Just Dance 4(Ubisoft)
6.NBA 2K13(2K Sports)
7.Borderlands 2(2K Games)
8.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3(Activision)
9.Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes(Warner Bros. Interactive)
10.FIFA Soccer 13(Electronic Arts)
Here are the top 10 for December:
1.Call of Duty: Black Ops II
2.Just Dance 4
3.Halo 4
4.Assassin's Creed III
5.Madden NFL 13
6.Far Cry 3(Ubisoft)
7.NBA 2K13
8.Skylanders Giants(Activision)
9.New Super Mario Bros. 2(Nintendo)
10.FIFA Soccer 13
