The Nintendo Switch has outsold both the Xbox Series X|S and the PlayStation 5 last month according to a report from NPD. Overall, customers in the United States spent over $7 billion on products related to the video gaming industry in November alone, which is a new record for that particular month.
Spending on consoles was up 35% from last year, thanks in large part to the launch of both the Xbox Series X|S and the PlayStation 5. The release of the next-gen consoles also made a 58% increase in hardware sales, adding up to a record $1.4 billion.
The top console in terms of gaining revenue this past month is the PlayStation 5, which is not shocking considering it had the biggest console release in the history of the United States. Sony attempted to beat their own record, which was set by the PlayStation 4, and they absolutely did just that.
US NPD HW – Consumers spent a November record $1.4 billion on new video game hardware, an increase of 58% versus YA. Growth was driven by the launches of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series. Year-to-date hardware spending reached $4.0 billion, 34% higher than a year ago.
— Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) December 11, 2020
With titles such as Demon’s Souls and the surprise hit Astro’s Playroom releasing along with the console, and the pledge of sequels to Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War nearing its release, fans gathered to get the new system.
However, none of that excitement could still stop the consistent success of the Nintendo Switch, as reported by GameIndustry.biz which is based on the NPD research. Nintendo’s hybrid console sold more than 1.3 million units, the most in November despite in spite of the next-gen release by Sony and Microsoft.
The Nintendo Switch has been the bestselling console for the past couple of years, now surpassing two generations of Xbox and PlayStation systems. While this is almost undoubtedly because of lack of supplies restricting the potential of both PlayStation and Xbox, there is no disagreeing that the Nintendo Switch is still a sales powerhouse that can’t be opposed.
The NPD report discloses that Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War immediately became the bestselling game of the year upon its release, topping the November charts in the process. It’s the 13th consecutive launch in the series that has managed to top its release month, proving that there is still a lot left in the tank for Activision’s shooter series.
There are various other factors that helped explain this one of a kind findings. No one needs a meeting that this year has been bizarre, and the global pandemic absolutely threw the typical spending habits of most fans out of the window.
It also compelled both consoles to engage in strange advertising strategies and forced the supply chain that would usually be working overload. Because both the Xbox Series X|S and the PlayStation 5 released worldwide in roughly one week, numbers for both in the United States specifically were extremely under what they could have been under more regular situations. All consoles made were instantly sold, and many buyers are still waiting for an opportunity to secure one of them.