The NPD Group has released its regular monthly report on US retail sales, and Naughty Dog's The Last of Us has come out on top. June 2013 saw a now-expected overall drop in spend, down 15% from June 2012′s $700.6 million to just $593.3 million. Despite the drop, it’s an improvement on May’s $386.3 million. Software sales fell 14% to $313.8 million. Accessories fell 9% from $170.3 million to $155.2 million. Hardware had a particularly bad drop, falling 30% to $142 million from June 2012′s $201.5 million
“To quote Nintendo during E3, ‘software sells hardware’, which is evident in this month’s 3DS results,” the NPD’s Liam Callahan said.
“Strong double-digit increases in the 3DS hardware sales were coupled with triple-digit digit increases in software for June sales. 3DS software sales momentum is building due to a steady flow of content over the past few months, leading to positive year-to-date sales results.”
“The Last of Us was also the third highest game to launch during the month of June since NPD began tracking sales in 1995,” he added.
Minecraft’s retail release performed very strongly, but otherwise, it’s all about Nintendo. “Animal Crossing: New Leaf also sold well in the context of first-party games for the 3DS, having the third highest first-month sales next to two launches from holiday 2011: Mario Kart 7, and Super Mario 3D Land,” Callahan revealed. The top 10 software sales chart is below.
- The Last of Us (PS3)
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)
- Minecraft (X360)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (PC, PS3, Wii U, X360)
- NBA 2K13 (PC, PSP, PS3, Wii, Wii U, 360)
- Injustice: Gods Among Us (PS3, Wii U, X360)
- Donkey Kong Country Returns (3DS, Wii)
- Deadpool (PS3, X360)
- Battlefield 3 (PC, PS3, X360)
- Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)
