American sales tracker NPD has told MCV that it wants to introduce the globe’s first digital download chart.

The move would help quash ‘misinformation’ about the games market, according to the data monitor's director of corporate marketing David Riley.

Leading publishers and trade body ELSPA last month told MCV that the time was right to introduce digital charts in the UK, through GfK-ChartTrack.

Now NPD wants to offer charts for PC, console and even mobile across the Atlantic.

“The charts are needed in much the same way that retail and online tracking services are needed,” explained Riley.

“Objective third party tracking is essential to separating the wheat from the chaff. In other words, accurate tracking will provide a no-nonsense view of what’s happening on the publisher level, keeping away from the spin, and in some cases, misleading information that often appears on the internet.

"Misinformation can have a dramatic, negative impact on a publisher’s bottom line."

The NPD Group won’t yet confirm how quickly the charts will be created – but ruled out a merged retail and digital chart.

The news comes ahead of the October 27th London Games Conference, the first event to throw the spotlight on digital distribution. Contact Rob.Baker@intentmedia.co.uk for more details.