Global console video game unit sales declined about 6 percent compared to a year ago according to a measure of three key regional markets, a new report says.
Unit sales collectively fell in the U.S. and United Kingdom markets, while Japan saw an increase in the quarter ended Sept. 30, according to the Top Global Markets report from NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track Ltd. and Enterbrain. The Japanese console game software market grew 15 percent, compared to a 20 percent decline a year ago. That’s because Japan saw the launch of a couple of big titles: Dragon Quest IX and Pokemon Heart Gold & Soul Silver. Dragon Quest isn’t as popular in the Western markets, while the Pokemon title hadn’t launched abroad in the third quarter.
Console software grew 7 percent in unit sales compared to a year ago, and portable software grew 19 percent in Japan. But year to date, Japan’s software market is down 9 percent.
The United Kingdom saw its biggest drop in unit sales, with figures down 19 percent. Portable game sales in the U.K. fell 34 percent, and console software was down 12 percent. The U.S. saw a 9 percent decline overall, with console sales down 8 percent and portable sales down 14 percent.
Year-to-date unit sales in the United States and the United Kingdom saw declines in both console software and portable game software, with total unit sales for the United States declining 8 percent and United Kingdom unit sales declining by 13 percent. Both Ubisoft and THQ reported results that were in line with or close to expected results yesterday.