2021 US Games Spending: Annual Report

The United States video game market achieved a record-breaking performance in 2021, with total consumer spending reaching $60.4 billion. This figure represents an 8% increase over the previous year, driven by robust growth across both software and hardware sectors. The data, provided by the NPD Group, underscores a sustained period of high engagement and investment within the domestic gaming industry.

Software remained the primary revenue driver, accounting for 85% of total spending at $51.7 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase. This category encompasses digital games, downloadable content, and subscriptions across all major platforms, including console, PC, mobile, and virtual reality. The Call of Duty franchise maintained its market dominance, with Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War securing the top two spots in annual sales, marking the 13th consecutive year the series has led the charts.

Hardware performance was particularly strong, with revenues rising 14% to $6 billion. The Nintendo Switch emerged as the best-selling console of the year in both unit and dollar sales. Additionally, spending on gaming accessories grew by 2% to reach $2.7 billion, with the Sony DualSense Wireless Controller identified as the top-selling gamepad. While December 2021 saw a slight 1% dip in total consumer spending compared to the previous year, the overall annual trajectory confirms a significant expansion in the US gaming landscape throughout 2021.