US Gaming Industry: July 2022 Market Performance

The United States gaming industry experienced a 9% year-over-year decline in total revenue during July 2022, reaching $4.2 billion. This contraction was primarily driven by a 10% decrease in software sales, which totaled $3.7 billion, and a significant 22% drop in accessory spending, which fell to $148 million. Conversely, hardware spending served as a notable exception to the downward trend, rising 12% to $362 million compared to the same period in 2021.

Market performance across hardware platforms showed varied results. While the PlayStation 5 led the industry in total hardware dollar spending, the Nintendo Switch achieved the highest volume of unit sales for the month. In the software sector, the newly released title MultiVersus secured the top position on the sales charts, followed by Elden Ring in second place and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga in third. Other notable performers included Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which debuted at fourth place.

These findings are based on sales data compiled by The NPD Group for the period of July 3, 2022, through July 30, 2022. The analysis covers consumer spending across the U.S. gaming market, encompassing hardware, software, and accessories. The data highlights a challenging month for the broader industry despite localized growth in hardware investment and strong initial sales for new software releases.