The NPD Group today released its report on videogame sales for the first half of 2005. According to the report, sales of videogame hardware, software, and accessories rose 21% to $4.1 billion in the first six months of 2005, compared to the same period in 2004. (2004 sales were $3.4 billion.)
Console software, console accessories, portable game hardware, portable game software and portable game accessories saw dollar sales increases of three percent, six percent, 181 percent, 74 percent and 81 percent, respectively. Sales in console hardware, however, were down 6%.
PC software sales are on the decline, according to the report, with sales down 10.5%. The total software sales in the industry, however, were up 9.2%, from $2.5 billion to $2.8 billion.
“The robust performance of the portable market certainly contributed to the considerable sales growth of the industry but another significant contributor to industry performance is software. There are already several titles that have achieved sales that will ensure they are in the top 10 for the entire year. With this growth already realized for the year, the industry is poised to reach its highest sales levels ever,” said Anita Frazier, Entertainment Industry Analyst for the NPD Group.
