NPD: some data for March 2017, Nintendo Switch, more
Yesterday, the NPD published its monthly report for the American market, and in March, everything was up: Software, Hardware, and even Accessories. Total sales generated $1.36 billion in revenue, which is a 24% increase Year on Year ($1.09 billion in March 2016). The increase is quite obviously due to the launch of the Nintendo Switch, and its record-breaking launch, but also the strong Software releases (including on other platforms).
Here’s some raw data to begin:
- Hardware: $485 million (+91%), as opposed to $235 million in March 2016;
- Console Software: $612 million (+5%), as opposed to $585 million in March 2016;
- Accessories (including Toys to Life category): $231 million (+9%), as opposed to $213 million in March 2016. +26% for game controllers.
Software
The NPD notes that the launch of the Nintendo Switch put a stop to 9 straight months of Year on Year drop for Software sales. Software sales topped 1.3 million units, which is a new record for a Nintendo platform launch.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild makes up for most of those sales, with over 900 000 units sold at retail. The attach rate is also pretty impressive: +99% (over 100% if you add digital sales), which is the highest attach rate for any non-bundled game on a new platform since NPD began tracking (in 1995).
Speaking of the Legend of Zelda series, total sales from 1995 to present fall just under $1.4 billion. It’s also the top-selling IP of all time within the adventure “super-genre”, with +54% more than the second best-selling IP (Resident Evil).
1-2-Switch did well, but it sold significantly less than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: its attach-rate is only 19%.
Here’s the Top 6 Software for the Nintendo Switch:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- 1-2 Switch
- Super Bomberman R
- Just Dance 2017
- The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth +
- Skylanders: Imaginators
Here’s the Top 10 Software for the Wii U:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
- Super Smash Bros.
- Minecraft
- Paper Mario: Color Splash
- Pokkén Tournament
- New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U
- Super Mario Maker
- Yoshi’s Wooly World
- Splatoon
And here’s the Top 10 Software for the Nintendo 3DS:
- Pokémon Sun
- Pokémon Moon
- Super Mario Maker
- Poochy and Yoshi’s Wooly World
- Mario Sports Superstars
- Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns
- Super Smash Bros.
- Mario Kart 7
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
- New Super Mario Bros. 2
Finally, here’s the Top 10 Software for January to March 2017:
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands
- For Honor
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Mass Effect: Andromeda
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Horizon Zero Dawn
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
- NBA 2K17
- Battlefield 1
Hardware
Hardware-wise, the Nintendo Switch was (unsurprisingly) the best-selling console, but also the fastest-selling system ever in the United States… that’s quite the feat! It’s no wonder that total Hardware sales almost doubled compared to March 2016…
Also, the NPD confirms that the Nintendo Switch was the biggest Hardware launch for Nintendo (beating the GameBoy Advance, the previous record holder, by about 31 000 units), but also the second biggest launch for any game system since 1995.
The pack with the Grey Joy-Cons was the most popular, with the Neon Red/Blue Joy-Cons pack as the 2nd best-selling SKU (for the Nintendo Switch AND for all platforms).
Accessories
As you can see above, the launch of the Nintendo Switch also boosted sales of accessories. In fact, 1/4 of total sales in March were from Nintendo Switch accessories. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller was the best-selling game controller.
Finally, the NPD mentions the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild amiibo, which did help sales of the interactive gaming toys segment, but not enough to prevent a 38% drop Year on Year. The Character Pack accounted for 43% of total sales for the segment. As a result of those strong sales, amiibo sales increased by 56% Year on Year.
Source: NPD
Via: GamesBeat
