November Spending Down 10% Compared to 2020: US Monthly Charts

Consumer spending on video games in the United States experienced a 10% year-on-year decline in November 2021, totaling $6.3 billion. Despite this monthly downturn, the industry maintained positive momentum on a year-to-date basis, recording a 9% increase to reach $52.9 billion. The data, provided by the NPD Group, covers the period from October 31 to November 27, 2021, and highlights significant shifts across hardware, software, and accessory segments.

Hardware sales faced the most substantial contraction, falling 38% to $883 million. This figure represents the lowest November total since 2016, a trend primarily attributed to persistent console inventory shortages. Despite these supply constraints, the Nintendo Switch remained the best-selling console for the month and has held the top position for 35 of the previous 36 months. Accessory sales also saw a decline, dropping 20% year-on-year to $258 million, marking the lowest November performance for the category since 2017.

In the software segment, Call of Duty: Vanguard emerged as the top-selling title of the month, marking the 14th consecutive year that a franchise entry has led the charts during its release month. Other notable performances included Battlefield 2042 at second place and Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl at third. Additionally, Forza Horizon 5 achieved a new sales record for its franchise, while Shin Megami Tensei V recorded the highest launch-month dollar sales in the history of its series. While monthly spending dipped, the overall annual growth trajectory suggests a resilient market despite hardware availability challenges.