December Video Game Software Sales Up 15%; Hardware Up 2%; Another Big Month For Nintendo Wii, DS

So maybe video games are recession resistance after all. December video game software sales jumped 15% from the same month last year, according to data released this afternoon from research firm NPD. Hardware sales were less robust, growing 2%, while accessories were up 8%. Overall, industry revenues totaled $5.29 billion in December, the industry’s best single month ever. In the console hardware category, the Nintendo Wii dominated, selling 2.15 million units, beating Microsoft Xbox 360, with 1.44 million units. Sony sold 726,000 Playstation 3 consoles in the month, and 410,000 Playastation 2 units. In handhelds, Nintendo sold 3.04 million DS units, compared to 1.02 million Sony PSPs. Also note that Nintendo has 5 of the top 10 best-selling software titles, Here’s a look at the month’s 10 sellers: Wii Play w/Remote ; Wii, Nintendo , 1.46 million units. Call of Duty: World At War ; Xbox 360, Activision , 1.33 million. Wii Fit w/Balance Board , Wii,  ... (link)