The NPD Group’s total video game sales number reflects total content spend on video games, including full-game, DLC/MTX and subscription consumer spending across console, cloud, mobile, portable, PC, and VR platforms. This assessment of the broader consumer spend on the industry utilizes NPD’s monthly POS tracking services as well as consumer data from other NPD trackers, monitors, and reports. Mobile spending data is provided by Sensor Tower. 

Analysis from NPD’s VG industry analyst, Mat Piscatella, is below. 

All comments reflect dollar sales, unless otherwise noted.

The NPD Group – U.S. Games Industry Sales – July 2022

Total Video Game Industry Spending

July 2022 consumer spending across video game hardware, content and accessories fell 9% when compared to a year ago, to $4.18 billion. The total is slightly lower than the $4.19 billion generated in July 2020.

Year-to-date spending has reached $30.5 billion, a 10% decline when compared to the same period in 2021. Subscription content remained the only major spending category that experienced growth in spending.

Video Game Hardware

Video game hardware dollar sales increased by 12% when compared to a year ago, to $362 million. Year-to-date spending on video game hardware has fallen 7%, to $2.5 billion.

PlayStation 5 led the market in hardware spending during both July and 2022 year to date, while Switch sold the most units in both time periods.

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series dollar sales each experienced double-digit percentage growth when compared to a year ago.

Premium Game Tracked Dollar Sales Spotlight (Excludes Post Launch Spending)

MultiVersus was July’s best-selling video game, driven by sales of MultiVersus Founder’s Packs. Warner Bros. published two of the top three best-selling games of July, with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga ranking third.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 debuted as the #4 best-selling game of July despite digital sales not being included in the ranked reporting. It also ranked as the best-selling game of July on Nintendo Switch.

Digimon Survive was July’s other new release placing among the top 20 best-sellers, ranking eighth overall.

Mobile Spotlight (Notes Provided by Sensor Tower)

The summer months have traditionally been some of the hottest for mobile game spending in the U.S. This year, however, the category is in more heated competition for players’ hours than at any time in recent memory as other summertime activities open up as alternatives for more Americans.

As a result, year-over-year spending growth showed its largest decline so far in 2022 last month. That said, if seasonal trends persist, the category should see spending increase heading into the remainder of the year, bolstered by holiday vacations and purchases using app store gift cards.

July’s top 10 mobile games by U.S. consumer spending were: Candy Crush Saga, Roblox, Coin Master, Pokémon GO, Evony: The King’s Return, Royal Match, Bingo Blitz, Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle, Jackpot Party, and Homescapes.

Video Game Accessories

Spending on video game accessories fell 22% in July when compared to a year ago, to $148 million. A drop in gamepad spending drove the decline. Year-to-date video game accessory spending was 15% lower when compared to a year ago, at $1.2 billion.

The PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller Midnight Black was July’s best-selling accessory. The Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller led year-to-date accessory dollar sales.