Nintendo Switch and Call of Duty topped US games industry sales in November

NINTENDO’S CONSOLE SOLD 1.13 MILLION UNITS IN THE STATES LAST MONTH

Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in the US in November 2021, while Call of Duty: Vanguard debuted atop the monthly software sales chart.

According to research firm the NPD Group, the Switch family of consoles sold 1.13 million units in November, with 550,000 sold during Thanksgiving week, making it the best-selling console over the Black Friday period.

Switch has now been the top-selling video game console for 35 out of the last 36 months in the US. It’s also the best-selling console in both units and dollars for 2021 year-to-date.

Call of Duty: Vanguard was November’s top-selling game and instantly became the second best-selling game of the year so far, behind only 2020’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, according to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella.

Battlefield 2042 debuted at No.2 and is already the sixth best-selling game year-to-date.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl was another new entry at No.3, as was Forza Horizon 5 at No.4. Despite Playground’s racing game being available on Xbox Game Pass, NPD said it enjoyed record launch month sales for the Forza franchise (including both Horizon and Motorsport titles).

Further down the chart, Just Dance 2022 debuted at No.11 and Shin Megami Tensei V entered at No.16.

Total consumer spending across hardware, software and accessories last month ($6.3 billion) was down 10% compared to November 2020, but year-to-date spending ($52.9 billion) is up 9% versus the same period last year.

Nintendo claimed last week that Switch enjoyed its biggest sales week yet in the UK and across Europe driven by the launch of a new Mario Kart 8: Deluxe hardware bundle for Black Friday.