Playstation 4 topped the Xbox One for U.S. console sales in February, as Sony ousted rival Microsoft for the ninth time in 10 months.
The NPD Group reported its monthly console video game sales data today and PS4 was once again the top-selling hardware platform. Sony also beat Microsoft and Nintendo for software sales.
“We continued to see strong year-over-year sales growth for PS4 hardware and software and are truly humbled by the support and enthusiasm from gamers,” a Sony Computer Entertainment America spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to deliver amazing gaming experiences with the upcoming launches of Ratchet & Clank, MLB The Show 16 and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.”
Microsoft, meanwhile, said that exclusive Xbox One game sales were up 49 percent compared to February 2015 and “the total number of hours spent gaming on Xbox One worldwide rose 93 percent.”
“The unmatched lineup of games available on Xbox One continues to generate a strong response from gamers as seen through global Xbox Live engagement and exclusive game sales,” Mike Nichols, Microsoft Corporate Vice President for Xbox Marketing, said in a statement. ” … We are truly grateful to our fans for choosing to play the greatest games lineup in Xbox history across Windows 10 devices, and are excited to share more in the coming months on our full lineup of holiday exclusives as well as new innovations, features and experiences coming to Xbox One, Windows 10 and Xbox Live.”
Sony has outpaced Microsoft for current generation worldwide console sales since the PS4 and Xbox One debuted in November 2013. Both currently retail for $349 as part of bundle deals.
Overall, hardware sales dipped last month by 23 percent compared to February 2015. That’s likely a result of both Microsoft and Sony cutting console prices since last year; Nintendo also launched its new 3DS handheld device this past February.
“Seventh generation console hardware sales dropped by 77 percent, while eighth generation hardware declined a more modest 6 percent,” noted NPD’s Liam Callahan. “However, the difference in volume between these declines is only $7 million due to the eighth generation now representing 86 percent of all hardware dollar sales.”
Here were the top-selling games from February, including PC (NPD only counts physical software sales):
- Far Cry: Primal
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
- NBA 2K16
- Lego Marvel Avengers
- Street Fighter V
- Minecraft
- Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright
- Fallout 4
