June 2015 NPD: PlayStation 4 beats Xbox One as Batman tops the software chart

When the gaming industry needs a hero to help give it a revenue boost, it turns to one man: the Batman (and he helps Sony before anyone else).

Total sales for new physical games and hardware at U.S. retailers was up 18 percent in June compared to the same period in 2014, according to industry-tracking firm The NPD Group. Hardware, software, and accessories generated $869.4 million in spending during the five-week period from May 31 through July 4. And, for once, all three of these sectors saw growth to help the more than $35 billion console gaming industry.