NPD: some data for April 2017, Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, NES Classic, more

Yesterday, the NPD published its monthly report for the American market, and in April, everything was up: Software, Hardware, and even Accessories. Total sales generated $636 million in revenue, which is a 10% increase Year on Year ($577 million in April 2016). The increase is quite obviously due to the launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the good sales of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (along with Persona 5).

Here’s some raw data to begin:

• Total: $195 million (+37%), as opposed to $142 million in April 2016;
• Console Software: $304 million (+6%), as opposed to $287 million in April 2016;
• Accessories (including Toys to Life category): $125 million (+4%), as opposed to $121 million in April 2016;
• Total: $636 million (+10%), as opposed to $577 million in April 2016.

The NPD notes that it’s the first time the US market is up for two consecutive months since November 2015. Naturally, the Nintendo Switch is one of the main reasons for that, which does show how much of a negative impact the Wii U had not just on Nintendo, but on the market as a whole.

Software

As mentioned above, it’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that led Software sales (alongside Persona 5!). The former was even the best-selling game in the US in April, which isn’t all that surprising for what has become the all-time best-selling racing franchise in the country. The latter was the third best-selling game.

Naturally, both Zelda and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are expecting to sell on the long run, and it definitely would not be a surprise to see them charting regularly.

In a press release sent earlier this week, Nintendo reveals that in just two days Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold:

• 460 000 units at retail
• 90 000 units via the Nintendo eShop
• 550 000 units retail + digital

The company also mentioned that 1-2-Switch and Snipperclips – Cut it out, together! saw strong sales in April, but didn’t share any data.

Next, here’s the Top 9 Software for the Nintendo Switch:

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
3. Lego City Undercover
4. 1-2 Switch
5. Puyo Puyo Tetris
6. Super Bomberman R
7. The Binding of Isaac Afterbirth+
8. Just Dance 2017
9. Skylanders Imgainators

As you can see, 7 of the 10 games were published by third-party publishers.

And here’s the Top 10 Software for the Nintendo 3DS:

1. Mario Sports Superstars
2. Pokémon Sun
3. Pokémon Moon
4. Super Mario Maker
5. Poochy and Yoshi’s Wooly World
6. Super Smash Bros.
7. Mario Kart 7
8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
9. Super Mario 3D Land
10. New Super Mario Bros. 2

Hardware

Unsurprisingly, it’s the Nintendo Switch that led Hardware sales, and it outsold the competition for the second month in a row. And just like in Japan, the units that are shipped to retailers end up selling right away, and shortages still persist to this very day. As a result, Nintendo sold “only” 280 000 units of its brand new console during its second month on the market.

Thanks to the Nintendo Switch, April Hardware sales in dollar were at their highest since April 2011.

But it’s not just the Nintendo Switch that outsold the competition… the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic also did! The NPD reports it was the second highest-selling console in April, which is due to Nintendo announcing its discontinuation and shipping the last units to retailers.

In a press release sent earlier this week, Nintendo revealed that the Nintendo 3DS sold over 68 000 units in April, which is definitely rather low. Still, combined with the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo make up almost half of all Hardware sales across all dedicated video game systems… and that’s without the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic!

Accessories

The NPD reports that the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller was the best-selling gamepad in April, and that it once again helped push sales of that category. Said sales increased by 9% compared to April 2016.

Source: Nintendo PR / VentureBeat