The summer videogame drought may be in full effect currently, but Americans spent plenty on video games in the first quarter of 2011.
NPD has reported that a total of $5.9 billion was spent on video games in Q1 2011 in the US. That includes $1.85 billion on used games, game rentals, subscriptions, digital full-game downloads, social network games, downloadable content, and mobile games.
Another $2.03 billion was spent on "new physical video and PC game software." Overall the figure of $5.9 billion is a 1.5 percent increase YoY over the same period in 2010.
NPD’s Anita Frazier explained how her company’s expanded coverage allows a more thorough look at the videogame industry.
"While the new physical retail channel still generates the majority of industry sales, our expanded research coverage allows us to assess the total consumer spend across the growing number of ways to acquire and experience gaming, including mobile apps and downloadable content," she said. "Through a combination of point-of-sale and consumer research tracking, The NPD Group is providing an expanded, more comprehensive measure of a dynamic and rapidly evolving games industry."
[VG247]
