May proved to be another tough month for US games retailer with market research body NPD stating that the market suffered a 23 per cent year-on-year drop in revenue in the period.

Sales reached $863.3m – significantly down on the $1.12 generated in May 2008 and the first time the monthly total has failed to pass the $1bn mark since August 2007.

“The video games industry continues to struggle with difficult comparisons to last year,” NPD analyst Anita Frazier explained. “May is typically one of the lowest revenue-generating months in any given year for the industry in general.”

With the traditionally quiet summer release schedule very soon to be upon us, the next few months are unlikely to bring much in the way of positive growth news.