June 2008 NPD Video Game Sales Charts
Wii Officially Passes Xbox 360 to Become Top-Selling Game Console
Wii Becomes the #1 Games Console in the United States
The biggest news in video games sales for the month of June 2008 pertains to the total video game console sales numbers to date. For the first time, the Nintendo Wii has passed the Xbox 360 to become the best-selling console in the United States, despite the Xbox 360 releasing an entire year before the Nintendo Wii. PlayStation 3 is still a distant third. The official numbers are as follows (with picture charts at the bottom):
- Nintendo Wii, 10,853,000 sales
- Xbox 360, 10,492,400 sales
- PlayStation 3, 4,854,300 sales
Nintendo's DS Outsells the Competition in June 2008
NPD's numbers also show more good news for Nintendo during June 2008: the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii were the #1 and #2 video game systems, respectively, in June. And despite being in a distant third in the overall game console sales race, the PlayStation 3 had a strong month in June, coming in at #3. The official numbers:
- Nintendo DS, 783,000 sales
- Nintendo Wii, 666,700 sales
- PlayStation 3, 405,500 sales
- PlayStation Portable, 337,400 sales
- Xbox 360, 219,800 sales
- PlayStation 2, 188,800 sales
Metal Gear Solid 4, Guitar Hero On Tour Top the Game Sales Charts
Metal Gear Solid 4 for PlayStation 3 topped the game sales charts for June 2008, outselling even the #2 game, Guitar Hero On Tour for Nintendo DS, by a large margin.
Six of the top ten video games in June were on Nintendo systems, and three of the top ten games were versions of Lego Indiana Jones by LucasArts.
Returning from last month's charts are Wii Play, Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii. Interestingly enough, Grand Theft Auto IV did not make a return, even though it was the #1 selling title on the May 2008 charts. Also missing: the new Rock Band for Wii and Guitar Hero Aerosmith for multiple systems, which released late in the month.
It should be noted that these game sales numbers do not include games packaged in with the video game systems, and the high sales numbers for the Nintendo DS this month may indicate that a large number of people purchased the Nintendo DS / Guitar Hero On Tour bundle.
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Gun of the Patriots for PlayStation 3, 774,600 sales
- Guitar Hero On Tour for Nintendo DS, 422,300 sales
- Ninja Gaiden II for Xbox 360, 372,700 sales
- Wii Fit (with the Balance Board) for Wii, 372,700 sales
- Wii Play (with the Wii remote) for Wii, 359,100 sales)
- Battlefield: Bad Company for Xbox 360, 346,800 sales
- Mario Kart Wii (with the Wii Wheel) for Wii, 322,400 sales
- Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure for Wii, 294,500 sales
- Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure for DS, 267,800 sales
- Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure for PS2, 260,300 sales
Outlook for July 2008
July 2008 looks to be a slower month for games releases, but the recently released Beijing 2008 and NCAA Football 2009 will likely sell well for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (neither game released for Wii, though a more casual-gamer friendly version of NCAA Football released for Wii).
Otherwise, games like Guitar Hero On Tour will likely continue to sell well during July 2008.
