July 2016 NPD: Summer game drought continues to hold back revenues

It’s a hot summer, and that has plenty of people indoors playing favorites like Overwatch and Grand Theft Auto V. But a lack of new video game releases is preventing people from plunking down any serious cash on new hardware or software.

Consumers spent only $480.1 million on new gaming-related hardware, software, and accessories in July, according to industry-tracking firm The NPD Group. That’s down 14 percent from $559.1 million during the same period in 2015. Just like in June, hardware, software, and accessories all lost ground in year-over-year comparisons.