NPD June: The Last of Us and 3DS on top

The NPD Group has released its June 2013 sales report for US retail, revealing a 15 per cent year-over-year decline during the period.

The $593.3m brought in during the month may have not bested June 2012’s total of just over $700m, but it certainly leaves a better taste than the (relatively) paltry $386.3m spent in May.

Not surprisingly, hardware took the biggest tumble – falling 30 per cent from the same period in 2012 to $142m. The figure does not include pre-orders for next gen consoles.

Nintendo boasted the top selling system in the category, with the 3DS showing a 40 per cent increase from last year moving 225k units during the month.

To quote Nintendo during E3, ‘software sells hardware’, which is evident in this month’s 3DS results,” NPD’s Liam Callahan stated.

Strong double-digit increases in the 3DS hardware sales were coupled with triple-digit digit increases in software for June sales. 3DS software sales momentum is building due to a steady flow of content over the past few months, leading to positive year-to-date sales results.”

Accessories fell 9 per cent to $155.2m, while Software sales fell 14 per cent to $313.8m. The Last of Us took the top spot in the latter category, apparently doing so with an incredibly good launch.

The report states Naughty Dog’s title earned the second highest first-month sales of a PS3 first-party game ever. God of War 3 still holds first for its March 2010 run.

The Last of Us was also the third highest game to launch during the month of June since NPD began tracking sales in 1995,” Callahan added.

The new Animal Crossing effort also had a strong showing. Nintendo has confirmed that, including digital sales, Animal Crossing: New Leaf has moved over 505k units so far.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf also sold well in the context of first-party games for the 3DS, having the third highest first-month sales next to two launches from holiday 2011: Mario Kart 7, and Super Mario 3D Land,” Callahan said.

Minecraft’s retail edition had a very strong performance as well. Here’s the full software chart:

1. The Last of Us (PS3)
2. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)
3. Minecraft (X360)
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (PC, PS3, Wii U, X360)
5. NBA 2K13 (PC, PSP, PS3, Wii, Wii U, 360)
6. Injustice: Gods Among Us (PS3, Wii U, X360)
7. Donkey Kong Country Returns (3DS, Wii)
8. Deadpool (PS3, X360)
9. Battlefield 3 (PC, PS3, X360)
10. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)