Gaming Sales Finally Decline

by Taylor Flatt on April 16th, 2009 at 7:06 pm EDT - 732 views

The gaming industry has finally seen a decrease in sales for the first time in the economic situation. While hardware sales dropped 18%, video game sales dropped 17% from $1.72 billion to $1.43 billion and software sales dropped 17% as well. This decrease is reported by the NPD while conducting their monthly studies in March. Although the situation has effected all other industries, it is no surprise that the gaming industry is one of the last to suffer. Offering recreation and infinite possibilities, it makes only sense that this would be one of the last to find their brick wall.

A NDP analyst, Anita Fraizer, had this to say about the situation,

While it might be tempting to jump to the conclusion that the sky is starting to fall on the video games industry given this month’s results, it’s important to remember that two very big things are different this year than last. First, Easter fell in March last year whereas it fell in April this year, and last March included the release of Super

Small Bros.: Brawl, which went on to become the fourth best-selling game in 2008.

It seems that although it was expected, it was a little more than many thought it might be. With the PS3 (21%), Wii(20.2%) and DS losing hardware sales in comparison with last March, the Xbox 360 seems to be the only console increasing in sales. However, the silver lining is still looming for the PS3 since it is the first time it has outsold the Wii in Japan. Could this be the end of Nintendo’s dominance of Japan or merely a fluke that will right itself later. Only time will tell and at this point, time is a virtue.

Source: Cnet
Image courtesy of ripten