Today, the latest NPD report has been released. For March 2021, consumer spending across video game hardware, content, and accessories reached a March record of $5.6 billion, 18% higher when compared to a year ago. Compared to last year’s first quarter, consumer spending is up 30% higher than last year, totaling $14.9 billion. Since this is the second year in a pandemic, monthly sales are now comparable to a year ago. March 2021 gains in hardware, accessory, and content sales pushed the market to growth despite the problems and issues that impacted the video game industry.
In terms of video game hardware sales, Nintendo Switch remains the best-selling hardware platform in both units and dollars during the month of March. The Switch was the units sales leader in the first quarter, while PlayStation 5 ranked first in hardware dollar sales. Speaking of PlayStation 5, another record has been broken. PlayStation 5 had the biggest launch month in U.S. history, was the biggest console launch in the United Kingdom, sold an estimated 3.4 million units in its first 4 weeks, and passed the Nintendo Switch as the fastest-selling hardware platform in U.S. history. Now, PlayStation 5 is the fastest-selling console in U.S. history in both unit and dollar sales (lifetime sales with five months on the market).
Last year, March video game hardware dollar sales were at a record $680 million. In 2021, those numbers increased by 47%. The previous record was set in 2008 with $552 million. Year-to-year hardware spending totaled $1.4 billion which is an increase of 81% compared to last year.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War remains at the top of the best-selling game in the month of March. The game was the best-selling title of the first quarter and the 12-month period ending in March. Monster Hunter Rise was the second best-selling game of the month. It was the best-selling game on Nintendo Switch. Rise is the second best-selling game in the franchise’s history one month on the market. Outriders is the third best-selling game of March ranking as the third best-selling game on both Xbox and PlayStation platforms.
Independent industry Benji-Sales also noted that Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales has outsold both The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima lifetime in the U.S. The game has been in the top ten list of best-selling games since it released.
Video game accessory spending reached a March record of $300 million, 26% higher compared to last year. First quarter accessory dollar sales were 42% higher than last year totaling $717 million.