The NPD Group has released data for video game hardware and software sales in the United States throughout the month of September, and looking back, it was certainly a busy month. Topping the software charts is Marvel’s Avengers, which also immediately becomes the seventh highest selling game of the year in the US, clearly having enjoyed strong sales out the gate.
NPD analyst Mat Piscatella notes on Twitter that in terms of dollar sales, Marvel’s Avengers has enjoyed the second biggest launch for a superhero game in the US to date, second only to Marvel’s Spider-Man. It was the best-selling game for the month of September on both PS4 and Xbox One as well.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars debuts in second place. It’s also become the tenth highest-selling game of 2020 right off the bat. The time-limited remaster collection saw 2020’s second biggest physical dollar sales launch of the year, second to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Meanwhile, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 slots in at No. 4 for its debut. The collection of remakes’ strong critical reception has been reflected in its sales, enjoying the biggest launch (dollar sales) for any game in the Tony Hawk series, beating a record held until now by Tony Hawk’s Underground 2.
NBA 2K21 debuted at fifth place, while Star Wars: Squadrons and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time came in at No. 9 and No. 11 respectively, even though they launched on October 2 (what with the period in consideration running up till October 4).
The final new entry in the charts is Crusader Kings 3, and Paradox’s grand strategy game has enjoyed a truly impressive debut. It is already the highest selling Crusader Kings game in the US to date, while it’s also seen the biggest dollar sales launch month for a game published by Paradox Interactive.
Meanwhile, on the hardware side of things, the Nintendo Switch, as it tends to be, the highest-selling console of the month. Spending in September 2020 stood at $277 million, 15% up from last year, driven largely by increasing Switch sales. Year-to-date hardware spending has climbed to $2.3 billion, which is 22% up from last year.
