The huge image: Consumer spending on video video games within the US dropped 10 p.c in November, from $7 billion a yr in the past to $6.3 billion this previous month. Despite the shortcoming, year-to-date business spending is up 9 p.c up to now in 2021 to $52.9 billion.
In his month-to-month report on the online game business, The NPD Group’s Mat Piscatella additional revealed that Nintendo’s Switch was the best-selling hardware platform, each when it comes to models bought and {dollars} generated, in November in addition to 2021 year-to-date.
Nintendo briefly misplaced the highest spot in September, however rebounded in October and continued its profitable methods in November.
Nintendo in a separate launch cited mixed gross sales of 1.13 million Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED fashions for the month of November. The firm’s transportable handheld has now been the top-selling online game system for 35 out of the final 36 months.
Arguably extra attention-grabbing is the truth that November hardware gross sales declined 38 p.c in contrast to the identical interval final yr. That’s the bottom whole for the month of November since 2016. According to Piscatella, declining hardware gross sales are pushed by an absence of obtainable console inventory.
We’ve all heard in regards to the ongoing chip scarcity, provide chain nightmares, the long-running scalper problem and shops’ continued need to solely promote new-gen consoles on-line. Nintendo has even mentioned it should miss its yearly Switch manufacturing purpose by 20 p.c. Still, Nintendo retains profitable the month-to-month battle in opposition to the PS5 and the Xbox Series. Why is that?
Perhaps it comes down to price, as methods from Sony and Microsoft are dearer than handhelds from Nintendo. Or perhaps it has to do with sourcing the most recent hardware for these house consoles, versus Nintendo utilizing older hardware that is simpler to produce. It could possibly be one thing else completely, or a mix of the lot. All I do know for sure is that it is getting extra puzzling as this entire factor drags on.
