Media metrics firm NPD has released its figures for October sales of video games and video game systems in the United States, and the news was again good for Sony. During the month, the PlayStation 3 continued to outsell Microsoft’s Xbox 360, moving 321,000 units during the month compared to 250,000 units for the Xbox 360. The Nintendo Wii still remains the console to beat—selling some 507,000 units during the month—but the Wii looks to have peaked: compared to October of 2008, saled of the Nintendo Wii are down 37 percent.
“Hardware sales were down 17 percent in units for the month,” said NPD analyst Anita Frazier, in a statement. “Compared to last month, which was a five-week month as compared to four weeks this month, Wii, PSP, and NDS sales increased on an average sales per week basis, while the PS3 and Xbox 360 declined.”
Amongst handheld gaming units, the Nintendo DS continued to massively outsell the PSP, with the DS moving 458,000 units during the month compared to 118,000 for the PSP.
However, while the Xbox 360 might now be bringing up the rear in console sales (beating only the PlayStation 2), Microsoft’s Xbox 360 did account for five of the 10 top-selling software titles for the month: Borderlands, NBA 2K10, Halo 3 ODST, Forza Motorsport 3, and FIFA Soccer 10 for the Xbox 360 accounted for 44 percent of all units sold. However, the top-selling titles for the month were Uncharted 2 for the PS3 (moving 537,000 units) and Wii Fit Plus (which sold 441,000 units).
Overall, the PlayStation 3 was the only console to see year-on-year growth in sales, although that may have more to do with the PS3’s previously weak sales than anything else. A bright spot for Nintendo was that about half the sales of Wii Fit Plus will full versions with a Balance Board, indicating many buyers were new to to franchise.
