PlayStation July NPD 2018 PlayStation 4 1

We figured that the PlayStation 4, in its fifth term, was going to make way for the newer Nintendo Switch in the NPD hardware charts this year, but it’s actually maintained its position at the top for much of 2018 thus far. A slow July means that it couldn’t quite make it six months in a row, though, as the Big N’s hybrid – fuelled by an impressive Octopath Traveler – took the top spot this time.

As has been the case all year, however, all three major platforms are performing positively in the United States; PS4 is still the top-selling system of the year overall, while even the Xbox One is enjoying a mini-resurgence compared to 2017. Overall industry spend for 2018 so far is up an impressive 17 per cent year-over-year, and there’s still a bumper holiday release schedule to come.

In terms of software, the PS4 relied on some of its evergreen titles, as the schedule was practically barren in July. Grand Theft Auto V finished in second position, while exclusives like God of War, Detroit: Become Human, and MLB The Show 18 continued to perform further down the software charts. Kratos’ revival is still the second best-selling game of the year so far.

We suspect that August will be another slower month for Sony, but things are really going to kick into overdrive again with Spider-Man and the slew of heavy hitters scheduled to follow it thereafter. It’s going to be fascinating to see how the Japanese giant prices its platform this holiday: is it finally time for a price drop, or can it still manage one last holiday at $299.99? We’ll find out soon.

NPD Software Top 20: July 2018

  1. Octopath Traveler*
  2. Grand Theft Auto V
  3. Mario Kart 8*
  4. Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy
  5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  6. Far Cry 5
  7. Super Mario Odyssey*
  8. The Crew 2
  9. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
  10. Mario Tennis Aces *
  11. FIFA 18**
  12. LEGO The Incredibles
  13. God of War
  14. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker*
  15. NBA 2K18
  16. Call of Duty: WWII
  17. Detroit: Become Human
  18. MLB The Show 18
  19. Minecraft**
  20. Destiny 2**

NPD PS4 Software Top 10: July 2018

  1. Grand Theft Auto V
  2. God of War
  3. Detroit: Become Human
  4. MLB The Show 18
  5. The Crew 2
  6. Far Cry 5
  7. FIFA 18
  8. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
  9. Horizon Zero Dawn
  10. NBA 2K18

NPD Best Selling Games of 2018 So Far

  1. Far Cry 5
  2. God of War
  3. Monster Hunter: World
  4. Call of Duty: WWII
  5. Grand Theft Auto V
  6. Dragon Ball Fighterz
  7. Mario Kart 8*
  8. NBA 2K18
  9. MLB The Show 18
  10. Super Mario Odyssey

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

[source venturebeat.com]