May 2014 NPD: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Watch Dogs, and Mario Kart 8 fuel industry-wide surge

As expected, new games on new systems helped the video game industry bring in a ton of cash in May.

Gamers spent $586 million on new physical gaming software and hardware in May, according to industry-tracking research firm The NPD Group. That is up 52 percent from $387 million in 2013. Major multiplatform releases like the ope-world Watch Dogs and major exclusives like Mario Kart 8 were big contributors to the strong performance. This is a good sign for everyone making games as it reveals that U.S. consumers can sustain spending at high levels well beyond the holidays, when the year’s biggest blockbusters and news systems go on sale.