Just when you thought the performance of the videogame industry couldn’t get any worse, it did. According to the latest data from US tracking firm NPD Group, videogame sales dropped by 31% to 1.17 billion in June. Hardware sales were once again the worst affected, down a whopping 38% to 382.62 million, while software sales slipped 29% to 625.79 million. In fact according to NPD Analyst Anita Frazier, June saw the “greatest year-over-year monthly decline since September 2000 when the industry declined 41%.”

Frazier continued, “The video games industry realized a significant decline when compared to June 2008, the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. The first half of the year has been tough largely due to comparisons against a stellar first half performance last year, but still, this level of decline is certainly going to cause some pain and reflection in the industry.”

Overall decline in hardware sales

The Nintendo DS was the only console to record fairly decent sales with 766 500 units shifted during June. Sales of Nintendo’s handheld were still no doubt bolstered by the release of the new DSi in April. The Wii sold less than half that figure in second place with 361 700 units while the Xbox 360 followed with 240 600 units, placing it roughly 75 000 units ahead of the PS3 which sold 164 700 units. The PSP was next with 163 500 units and the PS2 in last place with 152 700.

Frazier commented, “The Xbox 360 is the only platform to have realized a unit sales increase over last June. Year to date, both the 360 and NDS have generated an increase in unit sales… While Wii sales are down from last year, the platform is still realizing very strong sales month after month. Compared against historical performance of other systems this far into the console lifecycle, the [Wii’s] unit sales performance is still strong.”

Prototype triumphs, Wii Play falls out of Top 10

The Xbox 360 version of Prototype from Activision Blizzard grabbed the number 1 spot on the software chart with 419 900 copies. The PS3 version, however, did not make the Top 10 but Frazier revealed that roughly 600 000 units were sold across the two platforms meaning that the PS3 version sold approximately 180 100 copies. UFC 2009 Undisputed for the Xbox 360 slipped from its debut at the top last month to number 2 with 338 300 copies while the PS3 version of the game dropped out of the Top 10 completely this month.

EA will no doubt be pleased with their performance this month. The publisher bagged just shy of half the Top 10 spots with no fewer than four of their titles featuring in the Top 10. EA Sports Active held on to its number 3 spot with 289 100 copies while Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 entered the chart at number 4 with 272 400 copies.

Wii Fit continues its onslaught at number 5 with 271 600 copies while EA’s Fight Night Round 4 dominated sixth and seventh place. The Xbox 360 version of the fighter debuted at number 6 with 260 800 copies while the PS3 version followed with 210 300. Mario Kart Wii continues its popularity race in eighth with 202 100 copies while Red Faction Guerrilla is new at number 9 with 199 400. inFAMOUS drops five places to number 10 with 192 700 copies.

Nintendo relinquished their usual domination of the Top 10 with only two titles featuring and one notably absent. June was the first month since its launch 29 months ago that Wii Play did not feature in the Top 10. However, Nintendo will probably still be content with the 169 000 Wii MotionPlus units that sold during the new accessories first month at retail. And this number does not count those bundled with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10.

Speaking of Tiger Woods, Frazier pointed out that the game sold “nearly double the units sold in the first month at market of the previous best-two launches, PGA Tour ‘05 and ’07, which sold 272K each in their respective launch months.” These improved sales were no doubt due in part to the publisher “moving the release date of the game out of ‘Madden Month’ into June where golf was heavily televised due to the U.S. Open” as well as the new Wii MotionPlus accessory.

Compare these results to May’s performance if you like.

US Videogame Industry Totals for June 2009

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

• Video games - $1.17 billion (-31%)
• Video games hardware - $382.62 million (-38%)
• Video games software - $625.79 million (-29%)
• Video game accessories - $158.2 million (-22%)

Hardware Sales for June 2009

• Nintendo DS – 766 500
• Wii – 361 700
• Xbox 360 –240 600
• PS3 –164 700
• PSP – 163 500
• PS2 – 152 700

Top Ten Software Sales for June 2009

1. Prototype (Activision Blizzard, Xbox 360) – 419 900
2. UFC 2009 Undisputed (THQ, Xbox 360) – 338 300
3. EA Sports Active Bundle (EA, Wii) – 289 100
4. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (EA, Wii) – 272 400
5. Wii Fit with Balance Board (Nintendo, Wii) – 271 600
6. Fight Night Round 4 (EA, Xbox 360) – 260 800
7. Fight Night Round 4 (EA, PS3) – 210 300
8. Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel (Nintendo, Wii) – 202 100
9. Red Faction Guerrilla (THQ, Xbox 360) – 199 400
10. inFAMOUS (Sony, PS3) – 192 700

(Figures include Collector’s Edition and non-hardware bundles)

Source: NPD