American Gaming Market: October 2022

The United States gaming market experienced a period of stagnation in October 2022, with total consumer spending reaching $4.3 billion, a figure essentially unchanged from the same period in the previous year. This performance reflects a broader downward trend for the year-to-date, which saw total spending decline by 7% to $43 billion across software, hardware, and accessories.

The software segment served as the primary driver of growth for the month, increasing 2% year-over-year to $4 billion. This uptick was supported by a robust release schedule, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 securing the top spot on the sales charts, followed by Gotham Knights. Conversely, the hardware segment faced a 10% decline in October, contributing to a 2% year-to-date decrease in that category. Among console platforms, the PlayStation 5 led in both unit and dollar sales, while the Xbox Series systems maintained the second position.

These findings are based on sales data compiled by The NPD Group, covering the period from October 2 to October 29, 2022. The analysis encompasses the US market and tracks performance across physical and digital software sales, hardware, and accessories. While software showed resilience due to new title launches, the overall market remains under pressure compared to the previous year’s performance metrics.