Xbox 360 marks 28 straight months atop U.S. market; industry sales sink 25%

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Just days before we get our first look at the next-generation Xbox, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 continues to dominate the U.S. video game industry. The latest numbers from NPD market research firm are out and the Xbox 360 was the top-selling console in April, marking the 28th straight month atop the U.S. console market. Microsoft sold… Read More…

Always on? Study says 72% of U.S. gamers now play online

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The number of people who play video games without an online connection is quickly dwindling, according to the results of a study released today. The report by the NPD research firm found that 72 percent of U.S. gamers now play games online, up 5 percentage points from last year. It’s not a huge surprise, but the… Read More…

Video games analyst: “Consumers are starved for new titles”

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Game developers, take notice. Right now might be a perfect time to unveil that new game you’ve been working on for the past few years. According to NPD Video Games Industry Analyst Liam Callahan, the headliners of this holiday season’s video game lineup mostly consist of strong sequels — Call of Duty Black Ops, Halo 4, Assassins Creed… Read More…

NPD: 40% of freemium game players pay to play more

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Ever paid to extend or enhance a free-to-play digital game? A new study from market researcher NPD Group says you’re not alone. The NPD report, Insights into the Freemium Games Market, says four out of ten players have shelled out real cash if the game had additional features that could be purchased. Those most likely… Read More…

Study: Windows Phone on the radar, at least, for some smartphone buyers

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Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 still needs to dig itself out of a big hole in the smartphone market, after sinking into single digits in U.S. market share as Google’s Android rose to the top of the heap. But a new survey from the NPD Group shows that Microsoft is succeeding in getting its phones noticed…. Read More…

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 rules the U.S. console market, again

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In a down month for video games, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 continued to buck the trend in May, according to new data out this afternoon. Microsoft sold 270,000 Xbox 360s in the U.S. in May, up 39 percent over the same month last year, according to data compiled by the NPD Group market research firm. The Microsoft… Read More…

Nintendo 3DS falls short of DS launch, but beats it in revenue

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Nintendo’s 3DS didn’t sell as many units in its U.S. launch last month as the original Nintendo DS did during its 2004 debut. But the higher price for the new handheld, $250, was enough to top the original in initial revenue. That’s the word from the NPD Group market research firm this afternoon in its… Read More…