US game sales up 8% after seven month decline

Sales of boxed software, hardware and accessories were up during November in the US by 8 per cent, the first rise in the market for seven months.

The market generated $2.99 billion in revenues, up from $2.76 billion for the same month last year. Year to date sales are $14.73 billion, 5 per cent down on 2009.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 sold 1.37 million units during the month, up 68 per cent, while Bloomberg reports the PlayStation 3 sold 530,000 units, down 25 per cent on last year. Nintendo's Wii sales were up marginally at less than 1 per cent to 1.27 million units, and the DS family of consoles moved 1.5 million units. Overall hardware sales were up 2 per cent during November, pulling in revenues of $1.08 billion.

Software was up 3 per cent for the month, with Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops dominating sales and shifting 8.4 million units - one in four of every new boxed game sold.

Read More at: Gamesindustry