Two new video game properties, L.A. Noire and Brink, were the top-selling games of May. But total sales took a double-digit drop compared to May 2010, according to The NPD Group.
Total video game sales fell to $718.8 million in May, 13% down from May 2010's $829.4 million total.
The biggest factor? Fewer big games compared to this time last year, says NPD analyst Anita Frazier. "This month's story really is about a light new release schedule as compared to last year," she said. "There were 42 new (individual games) introduced in May as compared to 58 last May, and 72 in 2009. This is reflected in the share of dollars contributed by May releases, which was 28% in 2011 as compared to 41% last year."
Among the games released in May 1010: another Rockstar Games new property, Red Dead Redemption, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. "As a result of a lighter release slate, promotional activity at retail and in circulars was reduced as well, which undoubtedly affected not only planned but impulse purchases," Frazier said.
Sales of game systems did not take as big of a hit, falling 5% from $241.6 million in May 2010 to $228.9 million last month. The PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable and Xbox 360 all saw higher unit sales, compared to May 2010, Frazier says. "The top selling platform for the month was the Xbox 360, which has realized nearly a year and a half of month-over-month unit sales increases."
Other hardware notes from Frazier:
-- Nintendo 3DS sales "were light, but with next Sunday's release of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, we will begin to see a slate of strong content come to market for the 3DS, which should help to significantly boost sales of hardware during the remainder of 2011."
-- When sales of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are combined, sales are up 28% for the month and 21% for the year. "Although the declines in console hardware sales in 2011 are attributable to the Wii, the platform remains the best-selling of this generation at nearly 36 million installed in the U.S.," she said.
The 10 top-selling games of 2010 (in order, publisher and platforms in parentheses):
1) L.A. Noire (Take-Two Interactive, Xbox 360, PS3)
2) Brink (Bethesda Softworks, Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
3) Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (Disney Interactive Studios, Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSP, PC)
4) Portal 2 (Electronic Arts, Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
5) Mortal Kombat 2011 (Warner Bros. Interactive, Xbox 360, PS3)
6) Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision Blizzard, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PC)
7) Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (Majesco, Wii, Xbox 360, PS3)
8) NBA 2K11 (Take-Two, 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, PC)
9) Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft, Wii)
10) Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts, Wii, NDS, 360, PS3, 3DS, PSP, PC)