November NPD: Wii breaks 2m, Gears 2 breaks 1.5m ... what recession?

by Ross Miller on Dec 11th 2008 8:59PM

Despite all the talk of recessions and global economic crises (crisises?), the video game industry once again seems unfazed. According to the NPD Group, North American industry sales totaled $2.91 billion for November, approximately 10% higher than the same month last year. Of that, $1.45b came from software while hardware took in $1.21b and accessories $255.4 million. As you can see below, the big winners of the month were the Wii (average to 68K sold per day!) followed by the DS (avg. 52K daily). For the fourth month in a row, the Xbox 360 has outsold the PlayStation 3, and has sold double that of Sony's console for the eighth month in the two-year battle.

On the software side of things, Gears of War 2 must be very pleased with itself, with Marcus Fenix and the gang selling 1.56 million units – that's four times as many copies as Nathan Hale's Resistance 2 – securing the top spot for November. But not so fast, Delta Squad! Factoring in both "next-gen" platforms, Call of Duty: World at War sold an incredible 2 million units, with the Xbox 360 release commanding an impressive 70% of those numbers. Check full software sales numbers after the break.

- Wii: 2.04m

1.237m (154%)
- DS: 1.57m

1.079m (220%)
- Xbox 360: 836K

465K (125%)
- PSP: 421K

228K (118%)
- PS3: 378K

188K (99%)
- PS2: 206K

70K (51%)

1. Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 – 1.56 million
2. Call of Duty: World at War - Xbox 360 – 1.41 million
3. Wii Play w/ remote - Wii – 796K
4. Wii Fit - Wii – 697K
5. Mario Kart - Wii – 637K
6. Call of Duty: World at War - PS3 – 597K
7. Guitar Hero: World Tour - Wii – 475K
8. Left 4 Dead - Xbox 360 – 410K
9. Resistance 2 - PS3 – 385K
10. Wii Music - Wii – 297K

Source

Tags: breakingnews, DS, hardwaresales, js-twitter, north-america-sales, npd, npd-group, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, us-sales, Wii, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (129)

Given that most of the mega-selling Nintendo software is both first-party and includes peripherals, I'd imagine Microsoft is absolutely killing Nintendo in terms of software profits.

The big N make so much just off their hardware though that it probably doesn't even matter though (in terms of console-related profits).

Microsoft make so much just off Windows though that it probably doesn't even matter (in terms of the companies overall).

Delete as appropriate to your fanboy status.

Xbox games cost $10 more per than Wii games too. Most of the games have some kind of DLC. Plus the box sells lots of stuff on the marketplace, and you've got xbox live accounts. That whole netflix thing, i wonder if they get some kind of moola from that. They should put out like a total revenue for each of the three for the whole 2008.

You know what could be an alternate caption for that picture?
Zergling Rush.

Great numbers. I mean, half a million PSPs (almost). That's not bad, as well as the 4/5 of a million 360s sold. The Wii, well that's expected by now.

Wow I just saw that the 360 beat the ps3 by almost 2 to 1 ratio...that's incredible.

And the PSP beat the ps3 as well. Hell the ps2 was almost at it's level.

The signs just don't look good for sony right now.

Not to mention all of their systems sold less than november of last year.

i guess you can play the recession card on that one though....

"What recession?"

The recession that is making Toys 'R' Us file chapter 11. Seriously, I didn't feel the burn from this depression thingy until the super mega king of toy stores that has had the crown since my childhood files for bankruptcy.

did anyone die in that picture?

Meanwhile at PS3fanboy.com, Darkknight Bluray news!!!! YAY!!!! Since when did PS3fanboy become IGN.com? O_o

ROFL!!!

To be fair, The Dark Knight on Blu-Ray will probably sell more PS3s than LittleBigPlanet will.

I bought Little Big Planet AND the Dark Knight on blu-ray!

Wow... where ever did Nintendo come up with those consoles during their continuing shortage? One of life's great mysteries I suppose.

Oh so NOW there are plenty of Wiis available huh Nintendo? Gotta givem credit, that shortage shit was sheer genius.

MS: Xbox 360 is now $199.00!!!!

Nintendo: SON OF A!!!

...

Nintendo: Abandon shortage strategy, 360 is cheaper than us!

Nintendo: Wii will be available EVERYWHERE this Holiday season.

MS: Fuckers!

Xbox 360 to Wii...

"YOU, ARE A TOY! YOU ARE A CHILDS PLAY THING!"

-Woody

:)

Hey...PS3, why so glum chum?

I still don't get why there have been countless articles showing just why an artificial shortage would be stupid and certainly not beneficial and people still cling to the idea anyway.

Why do they even compare the Wii to the 360 and PS3? I don't even think MS considers them in a competition. lol seriously it's called the wii.

I know it's hilarious how they they compare the wii to the 360. Their two completely different consoles. Remember when the 360 reached 10mil? Microsoft said they were the first current generation console to reach 10 mil. Their not even considering the wii as current gen.

Oh really? This if from two days ago:

" I think that’s benefited us tremendously, the fact that the Arcade (Xbox 360) is even cheaper than the Wii has helped us. We will continue to take our great price and add more value to it.

Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360 "

http://kotaku.com/5106920/microsoft-prepared-for-the-winter-of-our-economic-discontent

If Microsoft isn't competing against Wii, than how does a 360 pricepoint below Wii help Microsoft?

Mr. Greenberg just confirmed competition in a roundabout way... and just a few weeks ago MS said that it's nice and good for the industry to have a console like the Wii as one of their competitors.

You guys are right, it's not a competition. Why? Because Sony and Microsoft can't compete with Nintendo this gen. They already lost. So they have their PR guys throw out bullshit one-liners like, "Well, the Wii is a different product." Nice spin, guys.

Sad, but true. But I think I'll stick with the losers myself. Maybe I'll play my Wii next year when something worth a damn like Mad World is released.

the rantings of dinosaurs, swept away into a new age

@Khan

Oh yeah, it's wonderful isn't it? A system with nothing decent for the holiday line-up is selling by the truck load while the two systems with decent games are left behind. I mean, seriously, Wii Music? If liking good games makes me a "dinosaur" then so be it, but I'm not going to pretend I like the crap on the Wii just because its what the masses have latched on to.

Honestly what I'm seeing from this is that MS could benefit massively by releasing a portable system. Look at Sony's case right there, the PSP sold more than either the PS3 or PS2.

People (including me) underestimate the power of the handheld market.

I said this for Sony and I'll say it for Microsoft: it is far, faarrrr to late to enter the handheld market. This has been Nintendo's domain for what, nearly 20 years?

The PSP wasn't exactly a roaring success was it? And I doubt anything Microsoft could produce would appeal to anyone but the tech buffs.

And just look what happened to the N-Gage and Gizmondo...megalulz.

All this chart says is that 360 will continue to be the lead SKU and PS3 will get ports if they are lucky. Strange days.

Sigh...Sony...I don't know what to say anymore...Congrats MS...and Nintendo but I expect better from Sony I really do...And where the hell is LBP? I thought it would atleast hit 500K man I don't know what to think anymore.

But on a lighter note GEARS freakin rocks! Keep those sales up baby

Personally, I don't see what all the fuss over LBP is.. If it weren't for the ridiculous amount of hype Sony fans were throwing at it, I don't think it would have even done as well as it's doing.

Not because it's a bad game, but because it only really appeals to a niché. Yes, it's original and inventive.. But it doesn't actually play that well, and unless you're willing to put the time and effort to make your own content, there's little point in owning it. And most gamers these days want something you can pick up and play easily, get into the action right away and be done playing within 20 minutes.

I appreciate what it was trying to achieve, but it still feels like it should have been a PSN title.

Kinda makes you think. What will Nintendo think up next? How huge of a success will it be? Will Fanboys finally stop hatin'?

Dark Knight in Blu Ray kicks @$$. Pure and simple. Its beautiful. However, with so many deals on straight blu ray players this season, the PS3 is no longer the cheapest blue ray on the market.

However if you want a great blu ray and utilize its game capabilites, it really can't be beat.

Kudos to MS for the great game to system ratio (8:1). Gears kicked butt and COD: WaW proves that multiplayer FPS are what where gamers go for FPS's.

Not really suprised with Resistance even though we know Sony had higher expectations since it was supposed to go head to head with GOW. LBP, not interested and passed on it. Very suprised how the sales have not met expectations even with all the advertising and high reviews.

I think the 360 will sell VERY closely to the Wii this holiday season.

Looking at Best Buy, for $299 you get the Pro & 4 games with it. Thats a great bang for the buck. PS3 isn't going to do well because of the lackluster bundles.

For holidays, especially in economic times such as the one we have now; parents will want to save and the 360 seems to be right on the money for good price & game bundling.

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November NPD: Wii breaks 2m, Gears 2 breaks 1.5m ... what recession?

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