PS5 Leads the Way with Record November
- Paul Thurrott
- Dec 14, 2020
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The U.S. video game industry experienced a record November in large part because of the high profile launches of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
“Consumers spent a November record $1.4 billion on new video game hardware, an increase of 58 percent when compared to a year ago,” NPD reported today. “Growth was driven by the launches of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. Year-to-date hardware spending reached $4 billion, 34 percent higher than a year ago.”
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While both consoles are effectively sold out, PlayStation 5 still led the pack in November and apparently by a wide margin, splitting the top spot with the Nintendo Switch. NPD says that the PS5 was November’s best-selling hardware platform “in consumer spending” while the Switch was the top seller by units. “Nintendo Switch has been the best-selling hardware platform in units sold for a record 24 consecutive months,” the firm added.
NPD doesn’t have too much more to say about Xbox. But it has plenty to say about the PS5.
“PlayStation 5 achieved the highest launch month unit and dollar sales for a video game hardware platform in U.S. history,” NPD analyst Mat Piscatella said. “The records were previously held by the PlayStation 4, which debuted in November 2013.”
PS5 also led the way with peripheral sales in November, NPD says, with “Sony’s DualSense Wireless Controller White achieving the highest launch month unit and dollar sales for a gamepad in U.S. history.” Overall, the industry sold $314 million worth of video game peripherals in the U.S. in November, a gain of 8 percent year-over-year.