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September NPD: Destiny leads as software sales decline

Earnest Cavalli
Updated ·2 min read
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The gaming industry continues to grow with each passing month, though the rate of said growth in North America seems to be slowing, according to the NPD's latest report.

Though sales of video game hardware jumped an impressive 136 percent year over year - which makes sense given that the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 had yet to launch in September 2013 - total industry sales only grew by two percent. This is due to a 36 percent decline in year over year sales of new, physical console and portable games, that, while countered by a 33 percent increase in accessory sales, is complemented by a 35 percent decline in total software sales, which includes the aforementioned console games as well as their PC counterparts. However, the NPD notes that a direct comparison is difficult as September 2013 saw the launch of Grand Theft Auto 5, a game that holds the record as the most successful launch in history.

Despite the dip in software sales, Sony claims September 2014 was a "record-breaking month" for the PlayStation Network Store. "Last month's PlayStation Store revenue increased nearly 90 percent compared with Sept. 2013," stated Sony Network Entertainment International vice president Eric Lempel. "Working closely with Activision and Bungie, we wanted to make the launch of Destiny a special experience for PlayStation fans. We're thrilled to see this high engagement from PS4 and PS3 owners."

The top ten best-selling games saw a shakeup in September, with Destiny pushing Madden 15 out of the top spot and both Super Smash Bros. 3DS and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor joining the list, at spots four and five, respectively. That success, Nintendo claims, is largely responsible for the sale of 140,000 3DS units during September. Likewise, Nintendo believes the Wii U's double-digit increase in sales can be attributed to Mario Kart 8 and Hyrule Warriors. Beyond the break, you'll find a full rundown of the top ten best-selling games for September 2014.

  1. Destiny (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3)

  2. Madden NFL 15 (Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Xbox One)

  3. FIFA 15 (PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, Wii, Vita, 3DS)

  4. Super Smash Bros. (3DS)

  5. Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

  6. NHL 15 (PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3)

  7. Minecraft (Xbox 360, PS3)

  8. The Sims 4 (PC)

  9. Disney Infinity 2.0 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PS4, Xbox One)

  10. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls (PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, PC)