Circana (NPD) September 2023: #1 Starfield #2 Mortal Kombat 1 #3 EA FC24; PS5 #1 Units + Revenue, XBS #2 Units + Revenue

[Gizmo_Duck]

State of the market
September 2023 US Video Game Market Highlights from Circana - U.S. consumer spending on video game content, hardware and accessories grew 10% compared to a year ago, totaling $4.5B. Growth in spending on video game content and accessories offset an 8% decline in hardware.

Spending on video game content in September increased 13% vs YA, reaching $3.8B. Growth in digital premium download spending across console & PC drove most of the gains. Non-mobile subscription spending fell 2%, while Sensor Tower reported mobile spending growth of 4%.

Hardware
Video game hardware spending fell 8% when compared to a year ago, to $451 million. Single-digit percentage growth in consumer spending on Xbox Series hardware was offset by declines across both PlayStation 5 and Switch.

PlayStation 5 remained the best-selling hardware platform in both unit and dollar sales during September 2023, with Xbox Series again ranking 2nd across both measures.

PlayStation 5 continued to lead the 2023 hardware market across both units and dollars. Year-to-date hardware spending was 10% higher when compared to the same period in 2022, at $3.7 billion.

Software
Starfield was the best-selling game of September, instantly becoming the 7th best-selling game of 2023 year-to-date. Starfield ranked as the best-selling title of the month across both Xbox and PC, with PC being its lead sales platform.

Mortal Kombat 1 debuted as the 2nd best-selling game of September and the #8 best-selling game of 2023 YTD. Mortal Kombat 1 was the best-selling game of the month on PlayStation platforms, placed 2nd on both Xbox and PC, and ranked 3rd on Nintendo Switch.

EA Sports FC 24 was the 3rd best-selling game of September. Double-digit percentage growth was seen across both units and dollars when compared to FIFA 23’s September 2022 launch month. EA Sports FC 24 launched as the 14th best-selling game of 2023 year-to-date ending September.

Mobile
In Mobile content, Sensor Tower reports the top 10 games by U.S. consumer spending in September as: MONOPOLY GO!, Royal Match, Roblox, Candy Crush Saga, Pokémon GO, Coin Master, Gardenscapes, Jackpot Party – Casino Slots, Evony and Homescapes.

“US mobile gaming spend in September 2023 showed a modest increase (+4.3%) compared to September 2022,” said Samuel Aune of Sensor Tower. “Interestingly, the list of top ten mobile games by revenue in the US did not change at all compared to last month!"

"MONOPOLY GO! remains firmly on top, with the #2 to #4 games Royal Match, Roblox, and Candy Crush clustered together, but trailing Scopely's hit by a wide margin. Spend in Pokémon GO came down from the high of August, Pokémon GO’s World Championships month," said Aune.

Accessories
Accessories spending during September increased 11% when compared to a year ago, to $197 million. Gamepad spending increased by 15% in the month compared to a year ago, while Racing Controller spending grew by 18%.

The PS5 Dual Sense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition was the best-selling accessory of the month in consumer spending.

Software charts

Year To Date

Nintendo / PlayStation / Xbox charts are no longer being reported.

Rankings
Units: PS5 > XBS > NSW
Revenue: PS5 > XBS > NSW

YTD Units: PS5 > NSW > XBS
YTD Revenue: PS5 > NSW > XBS

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Only single digit hardware growth for xbox. Starfield didn’t move much hardware at all

 

[rdj]

I guess the playstation guys were capping about buying Baldurs Gate 3. Happy to see Dead island 2 do well. 3 Xbox games in the top 20 for the year, good job Phil Spencer

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

I guess the playstation guys were capping about buying Baldurs Gate 3. Happy to see Dead island 2 do well. 3 Xbox games in the top 20 for the year, good job Phil Spencer

No, Larian doesn’t share sales data with Circana

 

[rdj]

No, Larian doesn’t share sales data with Circana

I stand corrected

 

[Hitchens]

PS5: 460k-489k
Xbs:290k-310K

Guess Microsoft gonna need to acquire more publishers to compete.

 

[Rekkapryde]

PS5: 460k-489k
Xbs:290k-310K

Guess Microsoft gonna need to acquire more publishers to compete.

Phil: "DADDDYYYYYYY, I WANT TAKE 2 AND EA!!!!"
Nadella:

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

PS5: 460k-489k
Xbs:290k-310K

Guess Microsoft gonna need to acquire more publishers to compete.

Its just taking them a while to see the future of their games exist off their hardware

 

[Instant Classic]

Good numbers for Starfield, but I've always felt Starfield was never a system seller. I think for Microsoft they have to earn trust and they'll need more than just Gamepass to move consoles. I think Microsoft needs to gain trust with consumers that they can release a steady stream of AAA games, and then that might sway some Playstation gamers to get xbox, but I think most people usually get one console and if they're getting a 2nd console it will be a Nintendo

 

[DaSk8D00D]

All that concern trolling and pushing a fake narrative of starfield being some sort of failure, just for it to be at the top of the charts despite being a gamepass game

It’s almost as if the coli isn’t real life

 

[Gizmo_Duck]

Good numbers for Starfield, but I've always felt Starfield was never a system seller. I think for Microsoft they have to earn trust and they'll need more than just Gamepass to move consoles. I think Microsoft needs to gain trust with consumers that they can release a steady stream of AAA games, and then that might sway some Playstation gamers to get xbox, but I think most people usually get one console and if they're getting a 2nd console it will be a Nintendo

The only thing Phil didn’t lie about, although starfield wasn’t really a 11/10 game

 

[rdj]

Good numbers for Starfield, but I've always felt Starfield was never a system seller. I think for Microsoft they have to earn trust and they'll need more than just Gamepass to move consoles. I think Microsoft needs to gain trust with consumers that they can release a steady stream of AAA games, and then that might sway some Playstation gamers to get xbox, but I think most people usually get one console and if they're getting a 2nd console it will be a Nintendo

Agreed, one game isn't going to solve the problem.

 

[Hitchens]

Good numbers for Starfield, but I've always felt Starfield was never a system seller. I think for Microsoft they have to earn trust and they'll need more than just Gamepass to move consoles. I think Microsoft needs to gain trust with consumers that they can release a steady stream of AAA games, and then that might sway some Playstation gamers to get xbox, but I think most people usually get one console and if they're getting a 2nd console it will be a Nintendo

We don’t know Starfield numbers to make this statement. Being number one on the charts doesn't mean you met or exceeded sales expectations.

 

[O³ (O cubed)]

We don’t know Starfield numbers to make this statement. Being number one on the charts doesn't mean you met or exceeded sales expectations.

For it to outsell MK1 and dislodge Madden it sold well.

 

[MeachTheMonster]

Sony stans