U.S. video game spending tracked by The NPD Group reached about $3.29 billion for the period November 26 through December 30, 2017, up 10% from $3.00 billion in the comparable 2016 period. Nintendo Switch was the top-selling hardware platform for December, while PlayStation 4 led hardware sales for the full 2017 calendar year.
What the December total includes
GamesBeat reported the $3.29 billion total from contemporaneous NPD reporting; The Toy Book rounded the same result to $3.2 billion. The difference is rounding, not evidence of two different market totals. The reporting period ran from November 26 through December 30, 2017, rather than matching the full calendar month exactly. GamesBeat and The Toy Book described the figures as NPD results.
The total is a market snapshot, not a complete count of every video game purchase. GamesBeat noted that the report omitted some spending, including digital sales through Blizzard’s Battle.net store, and did not cover total market spending. Read the figures as reported spending across participating publishers and platforms, not as a census of all U.S. game sales.
How spending changed by category
The reported category totals show hardware as the main source of growth, while accessory spending was nearly unchanged overall.
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- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
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| Category | December 2017 spending | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | $1.27 billion | Up 27% from $997 million |
| Console software | $1.24 billion | Up 2% |
| PC software | $40 million | Down 17% |
| Accessories | $735 million | Essentially flat from $734 million |
These category values are rounded figures attributed to NPD in GamesBeat’s report and, for hardware, console software and accessories, in The Toy Book’s coverage. They should not be treated as independently precise enough to sum to the reported overall total.
Switch led December hardware, but PS4 led the year
Nintendo Switch was December’s best-selling hardware platform. The monthly result should not be confused with the full-year ranking: PlayStation 4 was the best-selling hardware platform across calendar year 2017. NPD analyst Mat Piscatella put the distinction plainly: “Nintendo Switch was the best-selling hardware platform in the month of December, while Sony’s PlayStation 4 was the best-selling hardware platform of 2017.” The Toy Book reproduced the statement.
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- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
Nintendo separately reported that Switch sold 1.5 million units in December and had reached 4.8 million lifetime U.S. sales by year end. Those are Nintendo-reported unit figures carried by Game Developer; they are not a public NPD unit breakdown.
Which games topped the December charts?
Call of Duty: WWII led the all-platform December software chart. Super Mario Odyssey ranked third overall. The Switch-specific top five, in order, were:
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- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
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- Model number HAC 001( 01)
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Mario Kart 8
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Splatoon 2
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2
GamesBeat’s chart noted digital-sales exclusions for some titles and platforms. Its rankings therefore describe the reported chart coverage, not necessarily every digital and physical sale for each game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Accessories were flat overall, with sharp shifts inside the category
Although accessories generated $735 million, essentially level with $734 million a year earlier, individual accessory types moved in opposite directions. NPD reporting cited by GamesBeat showed interactive gaming toys down 66%, cases up 167%, and gamepad spending up 10%. The DualShock 4 led gamepad spending. The large changes in these subcategories did not translate into comparable growth or decline for accessories as a whole.
Quick Recap
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- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
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- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
