Monthly Sales Analysis, June 2011 - Wii & Zelda at the Top - News

by William D'Angelo , posted on 14 July 2011 / 10,607 Views

Overview

First off, welcome to a new monthly feature. The layout will be identical to the Weekly Sales Analysis feature, except it will be looking at an entire month worth of sales. The month of June is a five week period, while May is a four week, therefore month on month sales would need to be up between 20 percent and 25 percent to be flat for the weekly sales. With a full month of a price cut Wii sales nearly double. Year on year sales are down across the board for both hardware and software sales. Six games sold over 500,000, which is up from three last week.

Worldwide Hardware

Month on month sales are up across the board, but only because June is a five week month, while May is four weeks. Otherwise only the Wii and 3DS are up when you look at average sales per week and the PlayStation 3 would be flat. The Wii sold the most hardware in June with 904,000 units sold, an increase of 385,000 (74%). The PlayStation 3 is in second with sales of 667,000 units, an increase of 133,000 (25%). The Xbox 360 sold 569,000 units, which is up 84,000 (17%) compared to last month. The DS sold 457,000 units, which is an increase of 28,000 (7%). The 3DS sold 420,000 units, up 103,000 (32%) compared to last month. The PSP sold 387,000 units, up just 5,000 (1%). Total Month on Month sales increased 738,000 (28%) to 3.40 million units. However the average weekly sales in June were 680,000 compared to 667,000 in May, which is mainly due to the increase in Wii sales.

Year on year sales are down for every platform. The Wii has the smallest drop down just 22,000 units (-2%), while its little brother, the DS, has the biggest drop down a massive 915,000 (-67%). Even if you add in 3DS sales, sales are still down year on year for the Nintendo platforms. The PlayStation 3 is down 186,000 (-22%) and the PSP is down 244,000 (-39%). Xbox 360 sales are down 235,000 (-29%). Total year on year sales are down 1.18 million units (-26%).

Hardware Home Consoles

For the first of this new feature, I am showing the last 12 months’ worth of sales. Next month to make it easier to see the more recent sales, only sales for 2011 will be shown in the trend graphs. During the month of December you can see how much more video games sell, compared to the rest of the year, with November selling between 1/2 and 1/3 of what December sells. The Wii typically sells better during the holiday season compared to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, while the PlayStation 3 typically sells better compared to the other platforms. In 2011 the PlayStation 3 lead in sales from January through May, while the Wii lead in June. The Xbox 360 was in second from February to April, while it was in third the other months.

Hardware Handhelds

DS sales have in the past (2010 and older) lead on a constant basis, outselling the PSP by a ratio of at least 2:1 most months. However this year, mainly due to the 3DS, the PSP has gotten closer to DS sales each month. In 2011, the DS lead in sales January, February, and April through June. The 3DS lead in sales in March, when it launched in the Americas and EMEAA.

Worldwide Software

Three games debuted in the top 10 in June, the same compared to May, however none of them sold one million, while L.A. Noire sold over one million on two different platforms last month. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS) debuted at the top with sales of 703,000. The game launched worldwide in June with three weeks’ worth of sales; however it was released in the Americas a week after Japan and EMEAA.

InFamous 2 (PS3) debuted at number three with sales of 555,000, as it was on the market for four weeks. The game launched in the Americas and EMEAA and will launch in Japan on July 7.

Yakuza: Of the End (PS3) debuted at number nine with sales of 398,000, as it was also on the market for four weeks. The game launched in Japan, with no plans to be released elsewhere.

Other games in the top 10 that are not debuts include Wii Sports Resort at number two with sales of 619,000. Mario Kart Wii is at number four with sales of 547,000. Wii Sports is at number five with sales of 540,000.

Zumba Fitness (Wii) is at number six with sales of 518,000. L.A. Noire (PS3) is at number seven with sales of 480,000. L.A. Noire (X360) is at number eight with sales of 468,000. Pokémon Black / White Version (DS) rounds out the top 10 with sales of 382,000.

Software

Month on month sales are up across the board, but mainly because as stated before June a five week month. With average sales per week, the Xbox 360 is the only platform that is down. The Wii takes the top spot in June with 7.64 million games sold, an increase of 2.23 million (41%). The PlayStation 3 sold 7.37 million games, an increase of 1.82 million (-6%). Xbox 360 software sales are up to 6.83 million games sold, an increase of 878,000 (15%). The DS sold 4.32 games, an increase of one million (30%). PSP game sales increased 398,000 (30%), to 1.75 million games sold. The 3DS sold 1.63 million games, a increase of 950,000 (140%). Total combined software is up month on month to 29.54 million games sold an increase of 7.28 million (33%).

Year on year software totals are down across the board. The PlayStation 3 is down 979,000 (-12%), the Wii is down 3.42 million (-31%) and the Xbox 360 is down 513,000 (-7%). The DS is down 3.21 million (-43%) and the PSP is down 827,000 (-32%). Total combined software is down 7.32 million (-20%) games sold year on year.

Software Home Consoles

Wii software sales dominate in December, selling the same as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 combined. However during most other months, software sales between the three are very close. In 2011 the Wii led from January through March and retook the lead in June. The Xbox 360 led in April and May. The PlayStation 3 was in Second from January through March and May and June.

Software Handhelds

Monthly software sales for the last year show that the DS has maintained the top position; however since the release of Pokémon Black / White which boosted sales in back in March, sales have fallen in the last few months. 3DS software sales received fell since its launch, but increased nicely in June to almost PSP levels.

To view the full chart click here.

18 Comments

Conegamer (on 15 July 2011)

Good article.

NPD seems off this month (360 and Wii way off, for example) and whilst SOME adjustments are needed, I doubt it'll change the overall picture...

Keep it up!

Jumpin (on 15 July 2011)

I think the NPD numbers are a little suspicious. It does sound like, by comments made in the other article, that Microsoft did some tampering.

spurgeonryan (on 15 July 2011)

This makes me happy!

reviniente (on 16 July 2011)

I like how the article's focus is monthly. It has the potential to be very insightful in the future, so long as they don't jump the gun.

menx64 (on 15 July 2011)

NPD numbers were really weird this time, it seems like they did several adjustments to their numbers... I mean last month VGC was really accurate and now they are looking way off... Anyways, grear article... keep them coming pls.

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fgerger (on 16 July 2011)

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sirroman (on 14 July 2011)

NPD only takes into account US market numbers. These are WW. But yeah, it needs some heavy adjustments.

-2

TheWon (on 14 July 2011)

I respect what you guys try to do here, but when your so off the mark. It takes away any respectability you earn for the attempt.

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Ail (on 14 July 2011)

probably should have waited for NPD before posting this article ..

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trunkswd Ail (on 14 July 2011)

NPD isn't always right, also seems out of place that according to NPD 360 sales would all of a sudden double, without a price cut or any major releases. But if there are any adjustments, I will update the numbers.