Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has been declared the best-selling gaming console in the US for the 16th month in a row.
The Xbox 360 commands a 47 percent share of total console sales with Microsoft selling 236,000 units last month, according to the stats released by the NPD Group.
Moreover, total consumer spending on the Xbox 360 (what the consumer spends on hardware, accessories and software) was at $261 million, more than the combined figure of Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii. The Xbox captured seven slots out of the top 10 game titles in April with Kinect Star
Wars taking the first spot.
However, the Xbox’s success story is in stark contrast compared to that of the video game industry, which continues to struggle to stay afloat.
Video game hardware sales plunged by 32 percent this year, while software sales plummeted 42 percent. The only growth was shown by hardware accessories which rose by 1 percent from April 2011.
Although the industry has not been performing too well for a while, some of the blame for last month’s poor sales can be attributed to Easter falling early this year. Since Easter came early in April this year, most Easter-related purchases of gaming units were done in March. However, last year, Easter came in
late April, which means Easter-related purchases were made in April. Easter-related purchases give a 10% revenue boost for the month they fall in.
The industry may be lifted from its slumber this year as new products are being launched this year, like the PS Vita and the Wii U. Some game titles like Take-Two’s Grand Theft Auto V will also give an added boost to revenue figures.
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