April NPD: Nintendo dominates, industry sales up 20%

by Ludwig Kietzmann { May 17th 2007 at 9:18PM }

The NPD group has released US video game sales data for April, a month which left Nintendo laughing and others playing the fool. Industry sales are up by 20% over last month, generating a grand total of $838.6 million. Software sales dropped by 1% to $389.8 million, though a 54% increase in hardware revenue to $338.4 million lessened the impact.

GameDaily Biz reports that Nintendo's hardware took the top two spots (for real this time), with the Wii showing an increase in sales for the first time in several months. The system's shortage situation has enjoyed some improvement, though unfortunately the same can't be said for Sony. Despite the PSP trumping Microsoft's elite offering, it seems the crippling "shortage" from March has become even more debilitating for the PlayStation 3.

Nintendo DS: 471K (10.9 million total)
Nintendo Wii: 360K (2.5 million total)
Sony PlayStation 2: 194K (38.2 million total)
Sony PSP: 183K (7.4 million total)
Microsoft Xbox 360: 174K (5.4 million total)
Nintendo Game Boy Advance: 84K (35.7 million total)
Sony PlayStation 3: 82K (1.3 million total)
Nintendo Gamecube: 13K (11.7 million total)
Microsoft Xbox: N/A

Nintendo also reigned supreme in the software top ten, cashing in on that innate human desire to catch 'em all:

Pokémon Diamond (DS): 1.045M
Pokémon Pearl (DS): 712K
Super Paper Mario (Wii): 352K
Wii Play w/remote (Wii): 249K
Guitar Hero 2 w/guitar (Xbox 360): 197K
Guitar Hero 2 w/guitar (PS2): 142K
Spider-Man 3 (Xbox 360): 117K
Spider-Man 3 (PS2): 105K
God of War II (PS2): 101K
MLB '07: The Show (PS2): 79K

Check back later to see how Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo respond to the NPD results.

Tags: Microsoft, Nintendo, NPD, Pokemon, Sony

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Dolla Dolla @ May 17th 2007 9:25PM

... ouch.

AssemblyLineHuman @ May 17th 2007 9:29PM

"Xbox 360 Elite a smashing success; driving force behind more than 150,000 Xbox 360s in April alone"

"PS3 continues tremendous sales in the high-end consumer electronics market"

"Wii, DS remain at top of console sales for yet another month"

cc123 @ May 17th 2007 9:32PM

spiderman 3 taking up two of the top ten game spots...unbelievable

do people ever bother to read up on things before they throw down the cash???

gir @ May 17th 2007 9:33PM

Do you know why some people hated Spiderman 3? Its because of the PS3's suckyness. I blame it all on the PS3. Thanks a lot PS3, you ruined Spiderman for us with your copied logo.

gir @ May 17th 2007 9:33PM

I ment Spiderman 3 the movie not the game.

Geoff Gibson @ May 17th 2007 9:38PM

82,000...

Whoa...thats harsh.

In other news seems like the other systems cranked out a pretty good month, especially Nintendo, as usual.

severian00 @ May 17th 2007 9:41PM

So the first number is for the month of april, the second number is what? The year so far? total sales? If it's YTD, then Sony is in even worse shape than I thought. The Wii is selling 10:1 and the 360 is selling 3:1. That's not good either way you look at it. Maybe if there was even 1 game I was interested in, I might get a PS3... but I don't really need a BluRay player right now. Oh well Sony, hope you get your "supply issues" resolved. We've only had 4+ 60GB units in stock at any given time since the second week of January. Oh and for those of you Sonyboys that wanna talk about shipping qty's, I took a trip up to our corporate warehouse and saw 8 pallets stacked high with CASES of PS3's. So guess what, Sony may be shipping them but nobody's buying them.

skyrous @ May 17th 2007 9:43PM

Ok 6 months since the Wii launch and 6 months of looking at sales numbers and we can draw a few conclusions from this data. I think it's now time for all the Nintendo haters to finally accept that the PS3 isn't going to bury the Wii... and the PSP isn't going to wipe away Nintendo's hand held dominance and drive nintendo out of making hardware. So no the next Mario game isn't going to be a PS3 release.

I know you've held on to these delusions for 3 years but it just isn't going to happen.

Milkshake @ May 17th 2007 9:44PM

Its cool that Nintendo are doing well at the mo, they have a sensible priced systems that appeal to the whole family. I dont advocate the Wii60 deal however im more D60, DS for great gaming on the move and a 360 planted in my living room. Both get played loads, main reason great games.

SONY "the nextgen doesnt start untill you say it does" LOL the NextGen train left the station a long time ago you just wernt onboard.

3cubedminus3squared @ May 17th 2007 9:48PM

I hear Mario Party 8 is coming out this month. That will boost even more sales. Once I purchasae a Wii, it will be Wii60 for me.

aurorous @ May 17th 2007 9:48PM

The 2nd number is the total number of systems sold in north America. Nintendo's posting good numbers but somehow I doubt they've sold almost 12 million GameCubes in 2007.

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 9:54PM

Isn’t it curious though, that people think (this is geared to "hardcore gamers") that the wii seeing that it is doing so well will destroy the potential of immense gaming on the new systems. I am just curious wouldnt a more important factor be development costs? I heard for the ps3(note sure on the x-box 360 costs) you would need to sell 1 million copies to break even? I think the product of this will be more competitive. Sony will need to help developers (worth it in the long run) to cut costs and also expand their base. I do not think the ps3 bandwagon is one I would like to be on as a developer. Their will be games that sell well and help out, long term though I do not see this saving them from shooting themselves in the foot. I personally think the 360 will continue to do good, but not do exceptionally well. The wii I think will continue to expand the market, and be like a gateway drug into the gaming world. This could potentially be beneficial to the ps3 and 360 due to having more consumers instead of fighting over a limited number of sales. I personally view it in that regard, though I am still a bit curious why people bitch about the wii's graphic capabilities, since I personally think yea I know its weak compared to the two other systems but its has enough guts to keep it alive for 4 years. Though I think maybe they will do what the did with the 64 expandable ram(turok 2) and possible a station that docks with it(this it was the SDD) anyways just an idea throwing it out there

I just wanted to write since I am not a common troll/commenter I owned all three of last gen, plan to own all three this gen(currently 360/wii). I just wanted to feed the comments, and also stimulate a non biased conversation, we can throw sales numbers all day, that’s not important.. what is important is the conversation and what we take from them.. lol bowing out for now

Matt B @ May 17th 2007 9:59PM

Here is an odd comparison from ebay:

Wii - 1444 systems for sale
PS3 - 646 for sale
360 - 52 for sale

I went to a Ford dealer the other day. There were 15 Mustangs and only 2 Focus. Clearly the Mustangs are in failing. I talked to the sales guy, he said those same 15 mustangs have been on the lot for months while people are always coming in asking about the Focus.

Perspective can suck. But please get some.

severian00 @ May 17th 2007 9:59PM

Aurorous:

That wouldn't make sense, because according to MS numbers they sold 10 million in their first year. And I know there are not almost as many consoles in Europe and Ausie as in North America. It would also imply that they hadn't sold any since that announcement back in Feb. I don't doubt the power of the Wii selling that many consoles though. Our company, a mid-sized regional retailer, regularly gets shipments of the Wii that sell out in hours to a day at the most. Our store's average shipment is between 10-30. We can go through a shipment of 2600 Wii's in a couple days. That second number seems plausible to me. The PS3 number seems like a YTD number too.

Rubang B @ May 17th 2007 10:02PM

What the hell? My Wii is laughing!!!

kingofwale @ May 17th 2007 10:03PM

Shame on everyone who bought a Spidy3 games for your PS2,

and PSP is selling well after the price drop.

PS3, well, no shocker, with NO GAME whatsoever this month, I'm surprised it sold AT ALL.

Rubang B @ May 17th 2007 10:03PM

These numbers are NPD so they only cover the U.S., and the second number is the lifetime sales in the U.S., as collected and added together from NPD's numbers of each previous month.

Microsoft is selling 360s a little slower than they used to (it's April), but yes more than half their sales are in the U.S.

kingofwale @ May 17th 2007 10:05PM

>5. I ment Spiderman 3 the movie not the game.

yeah, that's why the movie gross 140 million in first weekend, breaking every boxoffice record known to men. ;)

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 10:08PM

I heard mixed reviews, my friend got me hooked on rotten tomatoes for reviews, but I heard its a see it once movie, and since the other two were done well maybe thats why it did so well, I have no idea, but the game on the wii is crap. I think the just thought the wii is hot lets make it 1/2 assed and send it on its way.

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 10:09PM

My comment seemed like a thought I couldnt word, maybe thats why they think I have A.D.D. lol jk

cc123 @ May 17th 2007 10:12PM

Should Wii Play even be in here?

I really doubt people are buying the package for the game.

If I made a game and packaged it with a pack of marlboro lights and a heineken it would probably break the top ten too.

Rubang B @ May 17th 2007 10:14PM

cc123, YOU'RE HIRED!

::hands cc123 a big sack with a $ sign on it::

gir @ May 17th 2007 10:19PM

@18

lol..I watched the movie and I liked it. I'm just trying to give those guys who hated the movie a reason ;p

cc123 @ May 17th 2007 10:21PM

I'm just saying by that logic then Wii Sports should be up there too since it comes with every Wii in the US.

I wonder what #11 was.

Rubang B @ May 17th 2007 10:22PM

Well at 360k Wiis, if you count pack-ins, Wii Sports would be #3.

cc123 @ May 17th 2007 10:26PM

Yeah and would that seem right to you?

When you incidentally buy a game it shouldn't be counted here.

hvnlysoldr @ May 17th 2007 10:25PM

If Wii Sports got included its sales would be 360k like Wii and therefore end at #3 ending with the top 5 software for Nintendo. PS2 took a loss since last month. I'm guessing either people are just now catching up on it now that it's budget fare or are just replacing their busted machine.

Theta @ May 17th 2007 10:31PM

@ Matt B

Here's a hint, look at how much the systems are selling for relative to their retail price.

Now, the fact that there are more wiis for sale on ebay couldn't have anything to do with the fact that, oh, I don't know, selling wiis is actually netting people profits as opposed to selling PS3s which would lose the seller money due to the low price, which in turns arises from low demand?

Perspective, indeed.

arrrgh @ May 17th 2007 10:32PM

"21. Should Wii Play even be in here?

I really doubt people are buying the package for the game.

If I made a game and packaged it with a pack of marlboro lights and a heineken it would probably break the top ten too.

Posted at 10:12PM on May 17th 2007 by cc123"

Seems like nintendo had a good idea then hm? I like these numbers :) they make my blu-ray hating heart skip a beat

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 10:35PM

haha, ahmen #28, ahmen

dsub @ May 17th 2007 10:39PM

82,000 for the PS3.

Ouch. Considering the fact that May, June and July will likely be just as bad if not WORSE with the only upcoming big name title being Lair on 7/31/07 things don't look good for Sony. If Lair gets pushed to September, expect August to be just as bad.

jp @ May 17th 2007 10:42PM

not surprising ps3 sales are low as there are no games worth gettin it once the great games come out the sales with pick up by alot
360 should be selling as it has all these supposed great games
wii just sucks until their triple a titles come out
i think i should of waited and bought it later

Matt B @ May 17th 2007 10:42PM

Theta,

If you bothered to look closer, the ones selling higher than retail also have other bundled stuff involved and still well below retail.

http://search.product.ebay.com/Nintendo-Wii-Game-console_W0QQfromZR31QQfvcsZ1452QQsoprZ56833153QQupvrZ2

Foot in mouth indeed.

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 10:52PM

You think that if nintendo picks up production( cuts profits though I bet) that the numbers would be a lot worse looking for sony?

arrrgh @ May 17th 2007 10:46PM

matt, the REASON wii's are for sale by the truckload on ebay is that they WILL sell on ebay. It's still pretty hard to find them in stores. Whereas the PS3 anyone could just goto ANYWHERE and pick one up...though i wouldnt recommend it yet

Luigi193 @ May 17th 2007 10:48PM

30. haha, ahmen #28, ahmen

Wow just about to say that...That could have been the worst logic i have every heard from number 13...WOW...perspective...

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 10:51PM

#33 lol you mind linking ps3 cough cough lol

required @ May 17th 2007 10:52PM

http://www.pspfanboy.com/2007/05/17/sgs-07-sony-releases-latest-sales-statistics/

3cubedminus3squared @ May 17th 2007 10:54PM

Matt B.
Why are you comparing used/second hand things to new stuff. You should of gone to walmart or best buy if you went to look at new cars, you should of looked at new systems too.

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 10:58PM

#38 What is a link good for? When I dont even know what your point was going to be?

Theta @ May 17th 2007 10:57PM

@ Matt B

And had you actually paid attention to the contents, you would have noticed that the "bundles" were just wii sports and wii play, cleverly worded as being multiple games for each individual minigame. Many, if not most of the "bundles are selling for higher than retail.

http://video-games.search.ebay.com/wii_Systems_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ62054

Retard much?

Rubang B @ May 17th 2007 10:59PM

required's link was the best link ever. Wow. Hahahahhaa. Sony has lost their magic ability to spin their way out of anything, wtf?

Rubang B @ May 17th 2007 11:00PM

Yeah I seriously love the Wii bundles that claim to have 14 games!!!!!!!1111 counting Sports as 5 and Play as 9.

JodyAnthony @ May 17th 2007 11:07PM

Matt B: maybe there are more wiis on ebay because there are more wiis out in the wild? it has nothing to do with the quality of the console, its all about the quantity of consoles out there.

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 11:09PM

Or, people figure there is a profit still to be made

Pip @ May 17th 2007 11:09PM

Sony and Microsoft need to get their consoles down to $250 or just bow out to Nintendo. This generation will be won by cost alone. $400-600 systems with $60 games are just not attracting enough consumers. $250 systems with $40/50 games are. My girlfriend bought a Wii, and doesn't even think twice picking up games for $40 a pop. She's had it for just over two weeks now and owns eight freaking games. I bought a 360 over a year ago and only own seven! I pretty much have to look over reviews to make absolutely sure the games will deliver for $60 and not turning out to be some 5 hour long rental (Gears anyone?).

Captain Pee Pee Pants @ May 17th 2007 11:11PM

I played gears, just wasnt into that much. I think the worst seeing my friends farm those awards for kills, ect. Got pretty lame, reminds me of people that play wow and are zombie farmers

Karen @ May 17th 2007 11:13PM

Wow.
I'll have to call my financial advisor tommorrow. Nintendo will have a very good quarter. Again...

Next-Gen-Gamer @ May 17th 2007 11:18PM

Someone give Matt B a map.

A friend of mine bought 2 Wiis for less than a PS3, and she put one up on eBay. Does that not factor in to your already-vague reasoning?

Obviously I can't prove that everyone selling Wiis have their own units that they've kept...but that's the point, isn't it? You can't prove shit, because you don't know anything about the sellers.

Foot in mouth indeed.

Matt B @ May 17th 2007 11:18PM

Last time Theta and you brought the retard name into the equation, not me.

Go back to my original link and look at all the extra remotes and accessories in those "high bids" and its still less than retail when you add it all up. There is no money being made. Maybe its just people that tried it and didn't like it.

Or is it unfathomable to not enjoy a wii?