August NPD: Switch Continues to Dominate, but Overall Software Sales hit 20-Year Low

The NPD Group has revealed its tracking of US retail and digital video game sales in August, 2019, and it’s been another impressive period for the Nintendo Switch. The console beat out PS4 and Xbox One again, keeping its spot as the best-selling hardware of 2019. Software sales overall, however, hit a record low across all systems.

Analyst Matt Piscatella was once again on hand to provide data and supporting commentary.

“Nintendo Switch was again the best-selling hardware platform of August and remains the best-selling platform of 2019,” Piscatella said. “Nintendo Switch is the only platform with sales gains both in August as well as year to date.”

Notably, five of the top 10 best-selling video games of August 2019 are Nintendo platform exclusives.

However, overall, software sales are down, not only year-on-year but dropping to their lowest to their “lowest level since 1998.” Piscatella explains:

“Dollar sales of tracked video game software fell 22 percent in August versus a year ago, to $257 million. This represents the lowest total software sales in an August month since August 1998, which was $234 million.”

Below you can find the full tracking for each industry segment:

SOFTWARE

1. Madden NFL 20**
2. Minecraft***
3. Grand Theft Auto V
4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses*
5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
6. Super Mario Maker 2*
7. Mario Kart 8*
8. Mortal Kombat 11
9. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
10. Astral Chain*
11. Marvel’s Spider-Man
12. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
13. Red Dead Redemption II
14. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII**
15. Age of Wonders: Planetfall
16. Super Mario Party*
17. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order*
18. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
19. The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan
20. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

*Does not include digital sales
**Does not include PC digital sales
***Minecraft digital sales include Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but not other digital sales.

The rest of the software charts
The 10 best-selling games of 2019 so far

1. Mortal Kombat 11
2. Kingdom Hearts III
3. Madden NFL 20**
4. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2**
5. Anthem**
6. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
7. Resident Evil 2 2019
8. Grand Theft Auto V
9. Red Dead Redemption II
10. Days Gone

Top 10 best-selling games over the last 12 months

1. Red Dead Redemption II
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4**
3. NBA 2K19
4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man
6. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
7. Mortal Kombat 11
8. FIFA 19**
9. Madden NFL 19**
10. Battlefield V**

Xbox One

1. Madden NFL 20
2. Grand Theft Auto V
3. Minecraft
4. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
5. Red Dead Redemption II
6. Mortal Kombat 11
7. Forza Horizon 4
8. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
9. Overwatch
10. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

PlayStation 4

1. Madden NFL 20
2. Minecraft
3. Grand Theft Auto V
4. Marvel’s Spider-Man
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII
6. Mortal Kombat 11
7. Red Dead Redemption II
8. Days Gone
9. MLB 19: The Show
10. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege

Nintendo Switch

1. Fire Emblem: Three Houses*
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
3. Super Mario Maker 2*
4. Mario Kart 8*
5. Astral Chain*
6. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
7. Super Mario Party*
8. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order*
9. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
10. Minecraft*

Nintendo 3DS

1. Pokemon: Ultra Sun*
2. Pokemon: Ultra Moon*
3. Super Mario Maker*
4. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D*
5. Super Mario 3D Land*
6. Super Smash Bros.*
7. Mario Kart 7*
8. Detective Pikachu*
9. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth*
10. Animal Crossing: New Leaf*

You can watch Pistcatella’s full video presentation of the results here.

For information on July’s NPD tracking, head over here.