Port Washington, NY — November 2020 consumer spending across video game hardware, content and accessories reached a November record $7.0 billion, 35% higher when compared to a year ago. Year-to-date spending totaled $44.5 billion, 22% higher than the same time period in 2019. 

Hardware

Consumers spent a November record $1.4 billion on new video game hardware, an increase of 58% when compared to a year ago. Growth was driven by the launches of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. Year-to-date hardware spending reached $4.0 billion, 34 percent higher than a year ago. 

PlayStation 5 was November’s best-selling hardware platform in consumer spending, while Nintendo Switch led the market in units sold. 

PlayStation 5 achieved the highest launch month unit and dollar sales for a video game hardware platform in U.S. history. The records were previously held by the PlayStation 4, which debuted in November 2013. 

Nintendo Switch has been the best-selling hardware platform in units sold for a record 24 consecutive months. 

Full-Game Dollar Sales Spotlight (Excludes Post Launch Spending)

Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War was November’s best-selling game, and instantly becomes the best-selling game of 2020 year-to-date. Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War represents 2020’s biggest launch. The title ranks first on both PlayStation and Xbox platforms for the month of November, as well as year to date.

This is the 13th consecutive year a Call of Duty game has ranked as the best-selling game of its release month. 

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla debuted as the second best-selling game of November and is the seventh best-selling game year to date. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla achieved the highest launch month sales for an Assassin’s Creed franchise title since the release of Assassin’s Creed III in 2012. 

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales was the third best-selling game of November, while ranking second on PlayStation platforms. Launch month sales of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales are the second highest amongst superhero games on PlayStation platforms in U.S. history, trailing only the September 2018 sales of Marvel’s Spider-Man. 

Just Dance 2021 debuted at number 13 on the November best-sellers chart. Launch month sales of Just Dance 2021 were the second highest in franchise history. Only Just Dance 3, launched in October 2011, experienced a larger launch. 

Accessories

Spending on accessories reached $314 million in November 2020, 8% higher when compared to a year ago. Year-to-date spending has increased 22% to a record $2.1 billion. 

Sony’s DualSense Wireless Controller White achieved the highest launch month unit and dollar sales for a gamepad in U.S. history.