The losses were seen across console and portable content, PC, cloud and non-console VR content, mobile content, hardware, and accessories. Surprisingly enough, even the mobile sector has contributed to this decline. Data from Sensor Tower shows that U.S. consumer spending on mobile games during the first quarter fell 10% from Q1 2021. Randy Nelson, head of mobile insights at Sensor Tower, said the following about this data: Indeed, as our previous report on the NPD Group’s findings pointed out, it’s expected to keep seeing a decline in the mobile market’s profits as the pandemic is close to ending. Now that players have become more active outside of the in-home environments (and because jobs are going back to being in-person), there’s less time to engage with mobile games, thanks to commutes and other external factors. Players are clearly still engaging with favorite games on mobile. Still, they have a broader array of alternative entertainment options open to them compared to a year ago as life in the U.S. normalizes. Going back to the subject, the overall spending on content during this year’s first Quarter reached $12.13 billion, a 7% decrease over Q1 2021. Subscription content was the only segment to post positive gains. Hardware and accessories declined 15% and 16%, respectively. Mat Piscatella, games industry analyst at The NPD Group, said the following regarding this data: During the first quarter, the games that dominated the market were the following: These included continued supply constraints on new console hardware, a comparable quarter from last year that included government COVID-19 stimulus checks for individuals, and the return of experiential spending opportunities that had been depressed last year, among others.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Grand Theft Auto V Call of Duty: Vanguard Call of Duty: Warzone Elden Ring Fortnite Mario Kart 8 Mario Party Superstars The Sims 4 Roblox NBA 2K22 Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Meanwhile, video game hardware unit sales were led by Nintendo Switch, while Xbox hardware generated the highest dollar sales in the first quarter, a 92% increase when compared to Q1 2021.
