Kaz Hirai PS4 PlayStation

With news that Sony’s big PlayStation 4 bundle for Black Friday 2018 is selling out this November, it seems that we can safely say the system is performing as strongly as ever five years into its lifespan. And the October 2018 NPD report for the United States is yet more evidence of that, as the console set a new sales record for the month, registering the highest October of any PlayStation platform since the PlayStation 2 in 2002.

The console was of course propelled by the success of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2 – the former of which having enough juice to outpace the latter, despite it being a close-run race. In reality, the industry surged 73 per cent year-over-year, netting an eye-watering $1.545 billion in dollar sales. All categories were up, with software securing a particularly impressive 104 per cent increase compared to 2017.

It wasn’t just the tentpole releases that put in eye-bulging performances, though: SoulCalibur VI cut through the noise to sixth place – a very impressive result considering the company it’s been forced to keep. Marvel’s Spider-Man is also doing the business, leapfrogging God of War to become the fourth best-selling game of the year so far. One can only assume that its position will rise with the addition of the abovementioned Black Friday bundles.

Frankly, it’s another wildly impressive month for the PS4 as a whole, and yet more proof that there’s life in the old dog yet. It’s going to be interesting to see just how high it can go this year, and one point worth iterating is that Sony’s success is not having a detrimental effect on the other manufacturers – in fact, the story of 2018 continues to be that all three major platform holders are enjoying extraordinary years in the United States.

NPD Software Top 20: October 2018

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII**
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
  4. NBA 2K19
  5. Super Mario Party*
  6. SoulCalibur VI
  7. FIFA 19**
  8. Marvel’s Spider-Man
  9. Madden NFL 19**
  10. WWE 2K19
  11. Forza Horizon 4
  12. Lego DC Super Villains
  13. My Hero One’s Justice
  14. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
  15. Mario Kart 8*
  16. Grand Theft Auto V
  17. Super Mario Odyssey*
  18. Diablo III**
  19. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  20. NHL 19

NPD PS4 Software Top 10: October 2018

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
  4. Marvel’s Spider-Man
  5. SoulCalibur VI
  6. NBA 2K19
  7. FIFA 19
  8. WWE 2K19
  9. Madden NFL 19
  10. My Hero One’s Justice

NPD Best Selling Games of 2018 So Far

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4**
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Far Cry 5
  4. Marvel’s Spider-Man
  5. NBA 2K19
  6. God of War 2018
  7. Monster Hunter: World
  8. Madden NFL 19**
  9. Grand Theft Auto V
  10. Call of Duty: WWII**

* No digital sales included
** No PC digital sales included

[source venturebeat.com, via venturebeat.com]