August 2018 NPD PlayStation 4 1

While the PlayStation 4 dominated the United States hardware charts five months in a row earlier this year, the Nintendo Switch kept the throne warm for a second month in August 2018. It's the third time this year that Sony’s ageing platform has fallen just short, but with Marvel’s Spider-Man reportedly ripping up the record books around the world, would you bet against it in September?

It's shaping up to be a great year for all three console manufacturers regardless, with the PS4 the top selling system in 2018 so far, and industry spend up 26 per cent for August 2018 specifically. A lot of this is being driven by improved hardware performance across the board, with revenue reaching $214 million this year compared to a comparatively paltry $168 million 12 months ago.

Madden NFL 19 blitzed its way to the top of the software charts, becoming the fastest-selling instalment since Madden NFL 13 around six years ago. It’s unclear why exactly it did so well, but it is a good version of the annual franchise, so perhaps it convinced lapsed fans to come back. Monster Hunter: World, buoyed by its PC port, slashed its way all the way back up to second, proving all over again that there’s a huge market for Capcom’s iconic franchise on stationary devices.

Elsewhere, the almost decade-old Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 re-entered the top ten on the back of its addition to the Xbox One’s backward compatibility programme, while God of War continued to linger in seventh position. We Happy Few charted all the way down in 19th place, as anime tie-in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker entered in a surprising sixth position. We’ve included all of the relevant charts and tables below.

NPD Software Top 20: August 2018

  1. Madden NFL 19**
  2. Monster Hunter: World
  3. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
  4. Grand Theft Auto V
  5. Mario Kart 8*
  6. Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
  7. God of War
  8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
  9. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  10. Super Mario Odyssey*
  11. Minecraft
  12. Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy
  13. Far Cry 5
  14. Monster Hunter: Generations Ultimate
  15. Call of Duty: WWII
  16. Mario Tennis Aces*
  17. Overwatch**
  18. LEGO The Incredibles
  19. We Happy Few*
  20. The Crew 2

NPD PS4 Software Top 10: August 2018

  1. Madden NFL 19
  2. God of War
  3. Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
  4. Grand Theft Auto V
  5. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
  6. Horizon: Zero Dawn
  7. Detroit: Become Human
  8. Far Cry 5
  9. MLB 18: The Show
  10. We Happy Few*

NPD Best Selling Games of 2018 So Far

  1. Far Cry 5
  2. God of War
  3. Monster Hunter: World
  4. Madden NFL 19**
  5. Grand Theft Auto V
  6. Call of Duty: WWII
  7. Dragon Ball: FighterZ
  8. Mario Kart 8
  9. NBA 2K18
  10. Super Mario Odyssey

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

[source venturebeat.com]