Despite video game hardware sales continuing to decline this year in the United States, the Nintendo Switch is still performing well. It was the best-selling platform in February 2020 and for the year overall according to the NPD Group. It bested the competition in both unit and dollar sales for the month.
That being said, hardware sales numbers aren’t looking pretty. Spending is down 34 percent compared to February 2019 at $183 million while annual spending was at $312 million, representing a 35 percent drop. Much of this is due to the upcoming slate of next-generation consoles, particularly the Xbox Series X and PS5. With an exclusive like Animal Crossing: New Horizons out this month, expect the Nintendo Switch to dominate once again.
Accessories-wise though, Microsoft still seems to be making a killing with the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller. According to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella (via VentureBeat), “The Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller was the best-selling video game accessory for the fourth consecutive month. It is the best-selling accessory year-to-date.” This is despite spending on accessories and game card falling by 14 percent to $265 million. We’ll see how this month pans out, especially with COVID-19 fears prompting more consumers to stay at home.