February 2018 spending across video game hardware, software, and accessories grew 23% when compared to a year ago, to $995M. Gains were achieved in hardware, accessories, and gamecard spending. Year-to-date 2018 spending across video game hardware, software, and accessories is up 39% when compared to the same period a year ago, to $2.1B.
Here’s a closer look at February 2018 performance...
Software
Dollar sales of console, portable, and PC games software = $397M (flat compared to year-ago). YTD software spending +24%, $916M.
Title Spotlight:
- Monster Hunter: World retained its spot as the top-selling title overall, once again leading on the PS4 and Xbox One platforms.
- Mario Kart 8 returned to the top of the Nintendo Switch chart for the first time since May 2017.
Hardware
- Hardware spending +55%, $316M.
- YTD hardware spending +79%, $594M.
- Console hardware spending reached the highest total for a February since 2014 ($345M).
- Sony's PlayStation 4 was the best-selling console in February and remains the best-selling console YTD.
- Over the first 12 months in market, Nintendo Switch has achieved the highest installed base for a console platform in history.
Accessories
- Accessories and gamecard spending +35% from YA, $282 million, a record high for a February! YTD +36%, $583M.
- Gamepad spending +46% from YA. Gamepads were the month's best-selling accessory group.