NPD August 2013: Sonic returns edition

Before we get down to our late NPD again, first things first.  I wanna give a big congratulations to Sonic the Hedgehog for making his return to the Smash Bros scene almost 7 days ago.



Sonic will join returning characters like Mario, Link, Pikachu, Samus, Donkey Kong and Pit, and will join newcomers like Mega Man in the new Super Smash Bros game.

And now, the dark moment before the storm.  NPD August 2013.  And once again, Madden comes in swinging.

At number 10: Pikmin 3 from Nintendo for the Wii U.  More cuddly than Justin Bieber that's for sure.

At number 09: Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn by SquareEnix for the PS3 and PC.  They finally got it right.

At number 08: Payday 2 by 505 Games for the 360 and PS3.  Who needs a boatload of cash to make a game when you got this?

At number 07: NCAA Football 14 by EA for the 360 and PS3.  Madden's younger brother.

At number 06: Mario and Luigi: Dream Team by Nintendo for the 3DS.  A part of the Luigipalooza going on this year for everybody's favorite green brother

At number 05: Minecraft, originally published by Mojang, for the 360 published by Microsoft.  Building fun, now in console form

At number 04: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist by Ubisoft for the 360, PS3, Wii U and PC.  Rest in Peace: Tom Clancy: 1947-2013

At number 03: Disney Infinity by Disney Interative for the 360, Wii, PS3, Wii U and 3DS.  Watch out Skylanders.

At number 02: Saints Row IV by Deep Silver for the 360, PS3 and PC.  Remember folks, believe in the GAT

And finally at number 01: Madden NFL 25 by EA for the 360 and PS3.  So, uhh, when is 2K Games gonna get the license?

Game sales have gone up 21% year over year.  That's good news for the market as gamers are buying in drove across the 360, PS3, Wii, 3DS and even the Wii U is starting to get into gamers. 

However, the hardware side of things have taken a turn for the worse.  The 360, the highest ranked console platform, is below 100K this month.  The 3DS has done more than the 360 has, while the Vita is still dead last.

Rumor has it that the new Zelda bundle may have done something to help with the Wii U.  Is it true?  And is the console industry being held back by the upcoming hardware?  Or is it something more sinister?  Stay tuned

Works Cited:
NeoGAF