As usual, it was a big holiday season for the video game industry. Blockbuster titles like Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and the remastered edition of Grand Theft Auto V on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 proved to be big sellers as more and more gamers upgraded to next-gen hardware. Thanks to the most recent statistics from the NPD group, we now have a better idea what the year in gaming as a whole looked like.
Hardware sales saw a 20 percent increase of $838 million last year over 2013, no doubt in thanks to the Xbox One's new $349 price tag and a number of holiday console bundles available from Microsoft and Sony. Xbox One outsold the PS4 in December, making it the second month in a row Microsoft has pulled the reigns away from Sony.
When it came to software, sales appear to be down with a drop of 13 percent (or $808 million) over 2013. It should be noted however that the NPD does not track digital game sales, only retail, which is sure to account for a significant portion of game sales as more gamers go digital. Software sales for current generation hardware (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Wii U) saw a 70 percent increase over last year as a growing library of games became available on the new hardware. Last gen consoles saw a 33 percent decline.
The NPD also revealed the best-selling games of the year. The winners likely won't surprise you, but do keep in mind that as previously stated, the NPD does not factor in digital game sales. It does, however, include all sales for a game across all platforms and editions.
King this year was Call of Duty and Activision, which not only saw the latest entry in the shooter franchise, Advanced Warfare, claim the top spot in 2014, but also saw 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts take the number ten spot as well. EA's football franchise did well this year and took second place, while Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V clocks in at number four thanks to a remastering for the Xbox One and PS4. Activision's other heavy hitter, the sci-fi shooter Destiny, claims the third spot. Despite winning numerous "Game of the Year" accolades, Dragon Age: Inquisition failed to break the top 10 for December or the year. Check out the full list below.
1.) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (360, XBO, PS4, PS3, PC)
2.) Madden NFL 15 (360, PS4, XBO, PS3)
3.) Destiny (XBO, PS4, 360, PS3)
4.) Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3)
5.) Minecraft (360, PS3, XBO, PS4)
6.) Super Smash Bros.(3DS, Wii U)
7.) NBA 2K15 (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, PC)
8.) Watch Dogs (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3, PC, Wii U)
9.) FIFA 15 (360, PS4, XBO, PS3, Wii, 3DS, PSV)
10.) Call Of Duty: Ghosts (360, PS3, XBO, PS4, Wii U, PC)
