The latest NPD figures show that US video game sales totaled $1.23 million in April, up from $838.6 million in April 2007. Software sales reached $654.7 million, up 68% from the previous year while hardware saw an increase of 26% to $426.2 million.

The boost in software sales was largely attributed to Rockstars’ Grand Theft Auto IV. Released at the end of April, GTA IV sold 2.85 million copies on the Xbox 360 and PS3 in its first five days of release. The Xbox 360 version of GTA IV sold 1.85 million copies to secure the number 1 position on the software chart, trailed by the PS3 version which finished third with 1 million copies.

Nintendo’s Mario Kart Wii separated the two GTA IV games in second place, selling 1.12 million copies, while Nintendo’s Wii Play continues to perform well in fourth with 360 000 copies. Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Brawl is at number 5 with 326 000 copies followed by Sony’s Gran Turismo 5: Prologue with 224 000 copies.

Nintendo’s Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games for the DS occupied numbers 7 and 8 with 202 000 copies each followed by Activision’s Guitar Hero III and Call of Duty 4 at numbers 9 and 10 with 152 000 and 141 000 copies respectively.

The hardware side of things looked much the same as March’s results. The Wii was the best-selling console with 714 000 units followed by the Nintendo DS which experienced a sales drop from last month’s 698 000 units to 415 000 units. The PSP sold 193 000 units, the Xbox 360 188 000 and the PS3 187 000 units. Next month GTA IV will no doubt boost the hardware sales of both the Xbox 360 and PS3.

If you missed it, make sure you check out the NPD results for March.

Hardware Sales for April 2008

1. Wii – 714 000
2. Nintendo DS – 415 000
3. PSP – 193 000
4. Xbox 360 – 188 000
5. PS3 – 187 000
6. PS2 – 124 000

Top Ten Software Sales for April 2008

1. Grand Theft Auto IV (Take Two, Xbox 360) – 1.85 million
2. Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel (Nintendo, Wii) – 1.12 million
3. Grand Theft Auto IV (Take Two, PS3) – 1 million
4. Wii Play with Wii Remote (Nintendo, Wii) – 360 000
5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo, Wii) – 326 000
6. Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (Sony, PS3) – 224 000
7. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness (Nintendo, DS) – 202 000
8. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (Nintendo, DS) – 202 000
9. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Activision, Wii) – 152 000
10. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision, Xbox 360) – 141 000

US Game Industry Totals for April 2008

Below is a list of the category, followed by the total and the change in brackets.

• Video games - $1.23 billion (+47%)
• Video games hardware - $426.2 million (+26%)
• Video games software - $654.7 million (+68%)
• Video game accessories - $154 million (+39%)

Source: NPD