Game sales expected to slide for seventh straight month

The NPD Group is expected to release its US gaming retail sales data for the month of June on Thursday, and Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter expects the news to be bad. Pachter today sent a note to investors saying he expects US software sales to total just $305 million, down 34 percent from June 2011.

[Statix]

Because there's so many great new games coming out as of late.

[dc1]

That.. and the growth of digital distribution.
I personally spent over 100 US on PSN last quarter.
and ..... I will admit that my wife will have to step in to stop me from breaking my wallet during Steam's annually sale (I still have games from last year O_o ).

Until these figures are incorporated, the analysis will be incomplete.

[BrutallyBlunt]

Since the Wii is falling off the map that's one reason why sales continue to decline year over year. Summer is usually always slow for software. It also shows the age of the current consoles. Usually after this long (XBOX360 came out in 2005, PS3 in 2006) we don't see consoles still selling for $200-250 so that could be another indication.

[nukeitall]

I think it has more to do with market saturation.

Games are too cheap and there are far too many options for people to really care about the latest releases. They are also significantly cheaper, so this decline is natural.

In terms of console sales, MS posted really strong numbers around Christmas time and that should have born some results right around now. I just think the increase isn't enough to offset the decrease elsewhere.

[Ares84HU]

I didn't get anything since ME3. There wasn't anything worth getting to be honest.

Also, games from last year still keep me occupied. Late last year was full of amazing games.

[Siren30]

Not really sure why everyone chooses to release their game between september and november. Theres enough big games this year that they could release a couple a month and probably would sell good since its more spread out

[Mustang300C2012]

If that was the case the games that do release during those times would sale. They simply don't sale regardless when they are released. The big games like Halo sale during that time frame for a reason and this has been the case for the last 20 years

[Minute Man 721]

It's the economy + people know that new systems are here next year

[Tsalagi]

Save all the good games for oct-dec, wonder why sales are down the other 9 months.

There's people who buy games and don't have to depend on mommy to buy them games for christmas. We would like something to play jan-sept. Cramming everything in a 3 month period just makes me skip 90% of what's out and pick them up later when on sale.

[ChunkyLover53]

We need new hardware, people aren't idiots, we all know the PS4 and Xbox 720 are coming sooner rather than later. New hardware and a slew of new software will definitely reinvigorate the industry.

[r21]

and or games, more unique games! where are the JRPGs, the horror games and platformers!