October was another disappointing month for the video game industry, though help is on the way.
Industry watcher NPD Group reported metrics for October, with industry sales slipping 4% to $1.03 billion. Hardware sales fell a problematic 26%, raining on a modest 6% uptick in software and a more robust 18% spike in accessories.
This may be the first time in five months that game titles inch higher, but keep in mind that this is a year-over-year gauge. Software gains don't look so hot when you recall that overall industry sales plunged a steep 19% last October. In other words, sector sales are 22% below where they were two years ago.
It's clearly telling that the best-selling title for the month was Take-Two Interactive's
November should provide a welcome break for an industry that has been slipping and sliding since early last year.
Microsoft's
Tack on the Kinect-related games and consumers who may have been waiting for the latest Call of Duty installment to upgrade their consoles and it's highly likely that NPD's mid-December report for the month of November is going to be a blowout.
We'll get an early glimpse when leading specialty retailer GameStop
A lot can change between now and then, but at least the gaming industry is finally moving in the right direction where -- and when -- it matters the most.
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