May NPD: Xbox 360 sales aren't grand, but GTAIV's sales are stellar

Going into this we'll be as upfront and honest as you can expect a fanboy to be. Overall, May's NPD numbers are not all that peachy for team Microsoft and the Xbox 360. No, they aren't horrible by any means, but they surely aren't anything to write home about.

So, let's get the icky news out of the way first. Just as the analysts predicted, console sales in general did not see any magical Grand Theft Auto IV effect. The Xbox 360 was only able to move about 186K units in May while Sony was able to do a bit better selling around 208K PS3s and the Wii just keeps on selling like crazy, moving an astonishing 675K units. And even though GTAIV didn't spur new hardware sales it did itself sell very, very well. Being one of the only pro-Xbox 360 highlights in this May NPD report is mention that the 360 version of GTAIV outsold the PS3 version nearly two to one, selling some 871K units compared to the PS3's 442K. And you are correct, we will take pride in that GTAIV sales fact.

Check the break for a complete breakdown of May's NPD report including the top ten video games and a list of all console sales. Also, we recommend putting on two layers of fanboy armor, because we have a hunch that you'll need double protection this month.

May Hardware Sales
Wii - 675,100
DS - 452,600
PS3 - 208,700
Xbox 360 - 186,600
PSP - 182,300
PS2 - 132,700

May Software Sales
GTA IV - Xbox 360 - 871.3K
Mario Kart Wii (w/ wheel) - Wii - 787.4K
Wii Fit (w/ Balance Board) - Wii - 687.7K
GTA IV - PS3 - 442.9K
Wii Play (w/ remote) - Wii - 294.6K
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wii - 171.1K
Iron Man - PS2 - 130.6K
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - Wii - 116.8K
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: EoD - DS - 107K
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: EoT - DS - 102K

Reader Comments (20)

Before all the PS3 trolls start coming around Ill say this: Get in game XMB and reliale servers before you start talking crap here whoooooo!

DOUBLE-LAYER-FANBOY-DINOSAURUS-GRAY RANGER-ARMOR ON!!

Man, the Wii is an unrelenting, money making machine at this point.

Wii Fit really surged their sales. Wonder what they have planned for five months from now to surge them again?

LOL...fuckin wii. sellin like hotcakes, but really, there's nothing to sell!

I've still yet to play on a wii, but I don't plan on it anytime soon. Just. Completely. Uninterested.

I know what you mean. I've had a Wii since around launch, and honestly it just sits there while my Xbox gets all the love. For some reason I just get bored with every game within 10 minutes.

I'm willing to give it one more try with Mario Kart though.

Don't bother Drew, MKWii isn't even as good as 10 year old MK64. Maybe I can sell you mine, lol.

I should've just sold my Wii for a profit when I got it. Now I'm stuck with it because the wife doesn't want me to sell it because her parents like to play it you know, the whole 2 times a year that they come over.

And that's about all the use it gets.

Oh man, what a bummer. I had high(ish) hopes for MK.

It's funny, because I'm in the same situation. I would have sold it a while ago, but my girlfriend likes to play when she is over. I have a feeling it's a pretty common predicament.

Sometimes I feel like the whole Wii thing is just a big joke by Nintendo that no one has caught on to. Really, how many different ways can you shake a remote? (I know I'm generalizing)

Well, at this rate Sony should pass up the Xbox around 2012. So we've got that going for us. Which is nice.

lol yeah and by then we'll probably have a new box to play with:)

I'd really like to know how many people buy the PS3 JUST for the Blu ray player.

i'd say its around the 35-40% mark.

A lot. I know people at work who aren't into games that would buy a PS3 just for the Bluray. Microsoft better figure out a solution soon, I don't know why they can't just come out with a Bluray addon like the HD-DVD player was.

That's exactly it. I'm considering a PS3 *only* for Blu-Ray capabilities (and maybe media player capabilities, Matroska support would clinch it), I doubt I would buy any games. The games attach rate is the real number to be concerned with here. The GTA4 sales speaks volumes. As a game developer which platform would you rather be selling on?

I got a PS3 a while back when Sony was doing the promotion for a free PS3 with an HDTV. I ended up selling it to a friend for $150 and his regular blu-ray player. I kind of regret it now, but at the time I didnt even miss it.

and game developers only look at attach rates per console, cost and time of development and DLC support for extra income.... looking at console sales sucks as far as worrying about getting new games is concerned....yawnz....

Are these numbers US or global? It would be nice to see the current installed base as well. While the difference seems large it may not be when compared against US / Global numbers and as % against installed. I agree with the guy above. While they may win by a few thousand this month 360 was beating PS3 by 100,000 for 12 months.

I bought a Wii, Wii Fit and Wii Play last month for my Mom. I may get Okami and No More Heroes eventually. I can't think of anything else I want to play on the Wii.

@ Octantis

NPD numbers are US only. They're not necessarily accurate either, more of an educated guesstimate.

When I picked up MGS IV at gamestop at midnight I was the only person there. It was sad lol. The gamestop across the street from this one is normally packed for midnight launches. This time 3 people in like. To put that in perspective at the Halo 3 midnight launch the store I went to had 50 people line and the other game stop across the street had 300+. I doubt this game will sell anything large. I think thats why they released on a thursday. So they had the 2 less days of sales so no one would compare it to GTA Iv or Halo 3.

May NPD: Xbox 360 sales aren't grand, but GTAIV's sales are stellar

Reader Comments (20)

Posted: Jun 13th 2008 9:40AM (Unverified) said

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