NPD: US video game spending fell 10% to $26.3 billion in first half of 2022
The NPD Group shared a new report on the best-selling games, consoles, and accessories of the first half of 2022. US game spending has been declining for seven months in a row, with subscription services being the only category showing growth.
- According to data provided by NPD analyst Mat Piscatella, US consumers spent $4.3 billion on games, hardware, and accessories in June 2022. It is down 11% year-over-year.
- Video game spending amounted to $26.3 billion for the first half of 2022, which is down 10% year-over-year.
June 2022 US NPD THREAD – June 2022 consumer spending across video game hardware, content and accessories fell 11% when compared to a year ago, to $4.3 billion. Growth in subscription spending could not offset declines in other areas of spending. pic.twitter.com/lmXFD2gVKm
— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) July 15, 2022
- As noted by Piscatella, subscription services is the only major category that showed growth in spending. However, it wasn’t enough to offset declines in other areas.
- In the first half of 2022, US consumers spent $2.1 billion on consoles, which is down 9% year-over-year.
- Nintendo Switch was the number one console by unit sales, while PS5 became the leader in dollar sales.
- Elden Ring remains the best-selling game of 2022 so far, breaking into the top 10 highest-grossing games in the US market of all time.
- Other titles in the top 10 best-selling games of 2022 include LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Horizon II: Forbidden West, and MLB: The Show 22.
US NPD PREMIUM GAMES – YTD 2022 Top 20 Sellers pic.twitter.com/Yl6iDVZ8aS
— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) July 15, 2022
The NPD Group recently released its forecast for the whole year, expecting consumer spend in the US to decline by 8.7% year-over-year to $55.5 billion.
