We are now past the halfway point in the year, and the NPD Group has released the June 2019 sales report regarding how well video game software and hardware performed in the U.S. during the month. June 2019 saw spending across all categories fall 13% compared to last year to $959 million. Total spending at the midpoint of the year is also down 4% compared to last year to $5.6 billion.
The month also saw Nintendo dominate the charts with the Switch continuing its run as the best selling console of the year, and a trio of games placing in the top 10 best selling games with Super Mario Maker 2 placed at the top. Impressively, Super Mario Maker 2 placed first on the list without Nintendo reporting digital sales as well as releasing at the tail end of the tracking period.
Placing second for the month was Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled. The remake of the classic PlayStation kart racer did exceptionally well and had the highest launch month sales for any title in the Crash Bandicoot franchise. It even beat out the remake of the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy, though unsurprising as this game released on all consoles simultaneously whereas the trilogy remake came to PlayStation 4 first.
Elsewhere on the chart, April and May number 1 and the best selling game of the year, Mortal Kombat 11, placed third for the month. Rockstar’s mega-success Grand Theft Auto V returned to the top five yet again. Placing seventh was the returning Marvel’s Spider-Man. The game is also now the best selling superhero game in U.S. history.
You can see the full top 10 best selling games in the U.S. during the month of June below:
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- Super Mario Maker 2*
- Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Minecraft**
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
- Marvel’s Spider-Man
- NBA 2K19
- Mario Kart 8*
- Days Gone
*Does not include digital sales
**Includes digital sales on PS4 and Xbox One
On the hardware side of things, spending took a massive hit during June. The Nintendo Switch was the only console to see year-over-year growth which makes sense as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are both winding down. Overall though, spending on hardware was down a massive 33% compared to June 2018 to $235 million. Then, compared to the midpoint of last year, spending is down 20% to $1.3 billion.