State of the market
August 2021 consumer spending across video game hardware, content and accessories
grew 7% when compared to a year ago, to an August record $4.4B. YTD consumer spending totaled $37.9B, a
13% increase when compared to the same period in 2020.
Hardware was a primary driver of spending gains in August. Led by PS5, hardware dollar sales
gained 45% when compared to August 2020. Mobile and Subscription pushed August content spending higher when compared to a year ago.
Hardware
August video game hardware dollar sales
gained 45% when compared to August 2020, to $329 million. This is the
highest total achieved in a August month since 2008 ($395M), and the third highest August month total in history. Year-to-date hardware spending has
increased 49% when compared to the same period in 2020, totaling $3.0 billion.
Nintendo Switch was the best-selling hardware platform in units during both the August month and year-to-date, while
PlayStation 5 leads both time periods in dollar sales.
After 10 months in market
PlayStation 5 remains the fastest selling PlayStation platform in history.
Content
Madden NFL 22 debuted as the best-selling game of August, while also ranking 4th among the best-selling games of 2021 year-to-date. This is the 22nd consecutive year that a Madden NFL franchise release has been the best-selling title of its launch month.
Ghost of Tsushima ranked as the 2nd best-selling game of August, after finishing at #110 on the best-selling titles chart in July. The launch of Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 drove the change.
Humankind ranked 1st among tracked PC titles in August spending, while placing 4th on the overall best-selling titles chart. Humankind currently ranks as the 5th best-selling tracked PC title of 2021 year-to-date.
The Last of Us Part II jumped to #10 on the PlayStation best-selling titles chart, after finishing July ranked 23rd. The title was price promoted across several retail outlets in August.
Software charts
Accessories
August 2021 spending on video game accessories was flat when compared to a year ago, at $164 million. Year-to-date accessory sales reached $1.6 billion,
gaining 12% when comprared to a year ago.
The
Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller was the best-selling accessory of August, while the
PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller White remains the best-selling accessory of 2021 year-to-date.
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