U.S. Video-Game Retail Sales Drop on Consoles, Software Titles

Quote: Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)Xbox 360, researcher NPD Group said. Washington, New York-based NPD said in a statement yesterday. Hardware sales declined 29 percent, and software sales slipped 30 percent, the researcher said. Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, posted a drop in sales of Xbox 360 for the first time since December 2009. Sales of the console, which was the top-selling video-game player in July, plunged 37.6 percent to 277,000 units. Anita Frazier, an analyst at NPD, said in the statement. Xbox sales in July last year were boosted after Microsoft cut prices to clear old models for a redesigned console. Consumers are increasing their spending to buy content in other ways such as electronic purchases of full games, mobile games and social-network gaming, Frazier said. “We have measured some remarkable growth” in those areas, she said. Sony Corp. (6758)’s motion-sensing Move peripheral for the PlayStation 3 rose 18 percent from a year earlier, the Tokyo-based company said in a statement, without citing figures or overall hardware sales. Nintendo Co.’s sales of DS and 3DS handheld players were “about flat to last year,” NPD said, adding sales of all hardware platforms dropped last month. The Kyoto, Japan-based company cut prices of the 3DS by 32 percent to $169.99 in the U.S., starting today. San Franciscocedwards28@bloomberg.netnfujimura@bloomberg.net; rgolum@bloomberg.netycho2@bloomberg.net ...
Open whole article (external link)