IGN: A majority of core gamers in the United States still prefer physical media when the game costs the same as the digital version, according to The NPD Group.
The global information company revealed the information in its latest report, called Core Gaming 2014, in which NPD claims there are over 34 million American people who average playing games five-plus hours per week on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. And the company believes these stats will increase as people adopt the newer home consoles from Sony and Microsoft.
The NPD Group states that the PS5 is now the fastest-selling hardware platform in US history (in terms of $ amount), while the DualSense leads all dollar sales for accessories.
On one hand this is great news for Sony (a sale is a sale), but on the other I am still without one and millions of others are as well. So thank you scalpers... Sony appreciates all you do for them.
(yes I'm bitter that i still can't buy a PS5)
I don't think Sony appreciates it because scalpers aren't buying games or subscribing to PS+ which is where Sony makes the most money. Scalpers are costing Sony money at the moment as is confirmed by the jump in sales of Spiderman when new stock drops in UK and real buyers get PS5s.
Actually the fact scalpers are still buying up PS5’s means that they are still selling like hot cakes to people who are willing to pay extra for a PS5. If no one was buying from scalpers, then they wouldn’t continue to buy up all the stock. So in the end (it doesn’t even matter), it’s most likely still going to a unique user who will buy games for the system.
That's just because more in general get them when more stock is released. I'd be willing to bet that 99% of launch day consoles have been turned on by now. All the scalped consoles will be in the hands of true gamers because the price is steadily falling, it just sucks they have to pay extra for the privilege
Scalpers are costing Sony money for sure. They should just start releasing to physical stores so this can be remedied (and I can get one)
That sucks. I was able to buy enough next gen consoles for friends and family...like 6 PS5s and 3 digital, 8 Series X, and 5 Series S. I have a few for me also. Got a 3080 as well. Injust need another one for my son's rig. Guess i got lucky back at launch. Hope everyone gets one soon.
Yeah right get 3080 while get 6 PS5, who are you trying to convince people on the internet or you?
Honestly it's not even impossible to get that many. If you follow all the twitter pages that inform you when there's stock somewhere instantly and use the discord stock chat it was actually pretty easy. I got my personal one and one each for 2 friends pretty easily, and Series X notifications were popping up very frequently
@UltraNova, Am I trolling? Huh? No. Me and my wife were able to use our phones and PCs to order most of those on the PS5 and Xbox launches. We had little issues with ordering those consoles. It sucks to know people are still waiting or having to deal with scalpers.
Just as I stated, I hope everyone who wants one gets one soon.
@S2K, are you referring to me? If you are, I am not bitter for any reason. Rushing to these articles?
I don't understand the internet bravado people spew on this site.
@RedDevils49m, proce something? I am not following. If you mean prove to peiple I own those consoles, no. It unfortunate that people are still without consoles mainly do to scalpers and limited suprise. I didn't think it was that difficult to get them on launch day as i had very little problem in doing so.
Yes, I like my toys. I fully retired at age 42 and live very comfortably. I buy my children (all are gamers), other family members, and friends gadgets and the like. I did the same thing last gen Nice surprises. I still have a few consoles that I haven't sent to friends yet, as a few of them are still deployed abroad. I will be getting more as they become more available so I can put them more than just in my theater. Yes, theater. But then again, by your logic I must be trying to prove something.. I have two gaming rigs myself, and one I was lucky to get a 3080. Now, that was difficult to get.
Not sure why my comment reads that I am trying to prove something. Imagine proving something to people who you don't know. That may make sense to you, but not me. I'm a retired SOF vet and middle age gamer, I could care less what people think.
It seems as though your comment says something about you instead of me. Maybe it's an age thing or life status thing, but thinking someone couldn't afford or get those consoles doesn't make since to me. It does to you.
Back on topic, like I aforementioned, I hope all those who haven't been able to get a console is able to get one soon.
@Andy, yes indeed. It wasn't difficult for me and some others. I do know others are having problems. There are twiiter pages that will alert you and are pretty on point accord9ng to my son. He wants a 3080 and is using one of those pages or stock alert to get notified. I honestly haven't looked much at getting more for now. I got everyone I wanted to get one for covered, with the exception of one friend in Italy. He got one 3 weeks or so ago by using twitter alerts.
@SegaSaturn, I saw a few arricles on main news sites saying that stock was nore constant now so I assumed it was easier, but when I see people still saying they are having a difficult time (like in this article), it surprised me.
you aint got shit and are probably still playing on an iphone 3gs and ps2.
PICTURE OR VIDIO PROOF or it didn't happen!!
I am a Rap star and i just bought my 3rd private Jet, see we can all boast and live in laalaa land. its insensitive to boast on here without proof while millions are struggling to get consoles
Ya right....
I've even had notifications when they go on sale and by the time I get my order in they've all been sold out.
I'm just going to wait 6 months or a year.
Yeah we know you are bitter, you usually rush to these articles, but you are bitter for a different reason it seems.
The drops are getting plentiful now. You just need to pay attention. The walmart rewards mastercard + walmart app was the trick that landed mine.
@muzikguy I don't agree with scalping but I'm not sure how they're costing Sony money
Once PS5 stock delivery and manufacturing normalizes , the sale numbers will skyrocket like there is no tomorrow :D
Yep. I know friends who can't even get one. Hopefully, this will get sorted out soon and scalpers will be stuck with a ton of them. Bwahahhaa!
If there is a silver lining to scalpers being stuck with product, it is they are more willing to haggle on the 2nd hand market. That's how I got my wiiu years ago when they were first being scalped. Got it for less than retail after there was enough stock to go around.
Im already seeing local sellers only marking up but $100-200 instead of close to double.
@excal, tell your friends to use teitter restock alerts. I have heard and seen people have luck with that.
@Darth, legit retailers are marking them up?
Here's hoping that it does happen soon and we all can get one without any scalping on the horizon.
It's going to be another generation where Sony sell another 100+ million consoles I think.
Here in the UK it's hard enough getting a disk ps5 console. But the digital I am starting to think is a myth. Never seen one in stock and every time I see on twitter of people excited they finally got a console it's always the disc one. Followed by loads of people upset they have yet again missed out on the cheaper digital.
Sort of like the 20gb vs the 60gb PS3? I swear I can find 60's and up but its next to impossible to find the all black 20gb. It's like they only made a small portion of those before they were axed in favor of the 40gb non-bc models.
Here in Europe we didn't even get that 20gb PS3. But yer it's kind of like that. Am sure Sony know that majority want the disc version. But it seems like the digital one is in so much demand I have never actually seen one in-stock.
why would you not want the 60gb ps3? that system is PERFECT. mine doesnt even work anymore and I still have it on my entertainment stand because it just looks so good.
^I want the 20gb because it is different in that it is all black where as I already have a chrome trim 80gb as well as the gun metal 40gb variants.
Its a beast, dualsense amazing, the true power of this system in a few years will be incredible.
it's time to run down the 20 best-selling games of 2019 in the United States, according to industry-tracking firm The NPD Group.
Nintendo killing it like no one else can. 5 exclusives in the top 20 is crazy, especially since 2 of them had released at least the year before
kinda sad imo when you only see Pokemons , Marios in the whole 10 game list and no new IP's, while others have great variation. ;)
How is that sad? If they're selling that well it's obviously because that's what gamers want.
But you are ok with the year NBA, Madden, and COD in the top 5?
The mainline Pokemon and Mario games are not yearly franchises. However, I’m not surprised you cherry-picked those games.
Fun fact, everyone was saying one of wii u problems was that people are tired of the exact same franchises again and again.. Next console comes and still same franchises.. Or worse.. Lots of them are wiiu ports.
Nintendo does have a great variation and they also sell very well. Don't be mad at Nintendo for having IPs with legs. Makes you look like a child. 🙂
I think that is sad that more people buy the PS4 and the X1 to play multiplatform games, mainly online focused ones, than their respective exclusives. No wonder that MTs are so prevelant in this industry.
Nintendo lives and dies by their classic characters. I got a Switch last March and the only games we got so far were Mario Odyssey, both Zelda games, Rabbids, Pokémon Evee, Pokémon Shield, Luigis Mansion and Starlink (which I got for free with Amazon promo).
Look at the third party games on top 20 and how many of them aren't on Switch.
It is the perfect secondary console because of their first party. But with the lack of big name third party it can't be your only console.
But if that works for them, so be it.
That's right gemmol, 14 multiplat games on there, only 4 of which are on Switch (if you're right about 4).
I am proud to see Days Gone in the top 20. It's a great game that took some unfair licks from the media this year.
Totally proud too. Against all media hate, the game did beyond awesome and turned out to be both a commercial and critically acclaimed hit.
Nintendo are still on the up and smashed it with quality and varied exclusives. Well done to day's gone and mlb. I think the tables will turn for Sony next year with the quality lined up. Microsoft. . . .not sure what they've got coming apart from infinite but their unit sales or enthusiasm must be low if they couldn't even get their marquee title to feature last year. Guess we'll put that down to game pass right.?
Could be, but Gears 4 was never on gamepass and it didn’t make the top list of 2016 https://venturebeat.com/201...
Gears 4 hit 3rd on the NPD on it’s launch month, while Gears 5 hit 7th, https://www.windowscentral....
and that didn’t include sales on steam, which were big at launch https://www.windowscentral....
And it appears to have sold better then gears 4 had, according to MS https://www.pcgamesn.com/ge...
I am glad for Nintendo but this is just 1 year. Sony topped Nintendo the whole decade and The Last of Us was named game of the decade over Zelda.
Dominating a whole decade is bigger than just dominating a year which in turn is the last life cycle year of the PS4.
I’ve been playing it this last week but I’m about to give up 5 hours in. Does it get better?
The transitions between cutscenes and gameplay feel outdated, the AI is terribly basic and the audio is incredibly bad but I’m wondering if it’s because of a bug. And worst of all is the amount of ‘clear out this place’ type of missions.
But I’ve spent money on it and I still want to give it a chance.
Days Gone made it into the top 20, number 19 for all games, number 8 on the PlayStation list. Really happy to see that gamers weren't taken in by the bashing the media gave this game. I guess it was the new kid on the block and had to be jumped in if it wanted to be considered cool and run with the big boys.
No Gears5 on the XBox One list, just multiplatforms.
Where are the VR games list?
It'll be some time before you see an NPD VR list. Not like when VR showed up on the UK list like with Blood and Truth.
USA is all about dude bro shooters and sports with Mario mixed in for flavor. Mostly the same annual franchises over and over.
But you're right. How about that Gears. Must have not sold that much because of a service. A lot of people "played" it though.
Well with Half Life Axyl bringing VR into the mainstream lol, we should start seeing VR games on NPD list by next generation as far as the PSVR2. Hopefully being better that the current model, with better controllers and resolution. I'm seeing so many new VR games being ported to PSVR that it seems VR Publishers are finally starting to take notice.
Yeah. Half Life should shoot to the top of the list for VR when it launches. Too bad there is no retail version. It would definitely hit NPD.
I hope so about next gen getting more exposure. It's sometimes hard to go back to flat when I've done that for more than 40 years. It takes old school beat em ups and side scrolling action games to bring me back out of VR.
Honestly, I wasn't too optimistic for Days Gone towards the end of last year, but as it got closer to release they did a really good job polishing things up. The post-launch support has been awesome too. It's a huge win for Sony Bend.
So dissatisfied at the top 5, yes Modern Warfare has a great SP but their MP leaves a lot to be desired.
I'm surprised that Days Gone made it at #19 on the list. However Nintendo is killing it with their exclusives. Unfortunately Gears 5 isn't on the list.
Days Gone is very underrated and glad it made the list, and well done Ninty, so happy Nintendo are doing superb.
Consumer spending on gaming hardware continued its plummet in October, according to The NPD Group. U.S. gamers spent $182 million on new consoles. That is down 41% from October 2018. The Nintendo Switch was once again the top-selling system for the month. But it’s worth noting that the comparison to 2018 is tough because Red Dead Redemption 2 launched for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in October 2018. That game likely moved a significant number of systems. October 2019 did not have anything like that.
But even without Red Dead, it’s clear that the younger Switch is still in the prime of its life. And the aging Xbox and PlayStation devices are in their twilight.
Sony & MS needs to stop their sh*t & drop their consoles to a premium price of $199 & a hundred off their mid gen consoles.
I've always preferred physical disks, I guess I'm old school
I don't like discs but i usually buy them for console games because they are considerably cheaper than the digital version.
I want to be able to keep a $60 product times an entire game collection. Besides if you go digital as others stated they shut down servers bye bye games.....
I went all D.I.G.I.T.A.L. and not looking back...
Xbox go to "insert game here" is all I do now.
No more fussing with disc, getting raped at gamestop, and loosing space on the disc rack.
@BlackTar187 - I've been gaming since 1986 and have had about 80% of all consoles release since. New consoles have come out and I have enjoyed the games I have bought for the time period I've played them.
I have never worried about consoles going out of business and me not being able to retain my Disc. What good is it to me if these gaming companies are no longer around.
I can still game on PC and I'm no collector. I know some are.
I would guess it has something to do how digital content is handled here. Digital cant be sold or traded in, and far too often the price of the disk version will go down over time while they still charge full price for the download.
I personally prefer digital, but will gladly purchase a physical copy when I can save money by doing so.