Batman isn’t just the world’s greatest detective and an all-around crime-fighting hero – he’s also a savvy marketing tool.
The Dark Knight’s latest outing, Batman Arkham Knight, helped propel the US games market in June.
Warner Bros’ title topped the software rankings for the month, according to market tracker The NPD Group (viaVenturebeat), leading a June that was 21 per cent up in terms of software revenues compared to 2014 – the sector made $345.5 million last month.
Of course, it should be considered that last June was rather devoid of big triple-A releases, partially accounting for the growth this year.
Thanks to a marketing effort on PS4, which included a console branded with Batman's iconic cape and cowl and bundled with the game, Sony’s machine once again outsold the Xbox One, claiming the crown for best-selling hardware in June.
Despite this, hardware was up across the board, growing eight per cent over the last 12 months to hit $313.1 million last month.
All in all, boxed software and hardware was up a combined 18 per cent on 2014.
Meanwhile, SuperData Research (also via Venturebeat) adds its estimation that June generated $1.02 billion in digital game sales – an 18 per cent bump from last year. (NPD, much like the UK’s own GfK Chart-Track, only counts physical sales.)
Mobile alone grew by 20 per cent to reach $367 million, However, PC and console didn't suffer in the face of this expansion, growing itself by almost a third (30 per cent) to hit $314 million.
Interestingly, compared to the boxed success of new June-release games Arkham Knight, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited and LEGO Jurassic World, the digital rankings were topped by two games released before June – last year’s Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Grand Theft Auto V.
2013 release Call of Duty: Ghosts also made an appearance, slotting in at number six above relative newcomers Mortal Kombat X, Battlefield Hardline and Madden NFL 15.
Here are the Top Ten best-selling boxed games for June, according to The NPD Group:

  1. Batman Arkham Knight
  2. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
  3. LEGO Jurassic World
  4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
  5. Splatoon
  6. Minecraft
  7. Grand Theft Auto V
  8. Mortal Kombat X
  9. NBA 2K15
  10. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

And here are the Top Ten best-selling digital titles for June, according to SuperData:

  1. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
  2. Grand Theft Auto V
  3. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel unlimited
  4. Batman Arkham Knight
  5. Destiny
  6. Call of Duty: Ghosts
  7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
  8. Mortal Kombat X
  9. Battlefield Hardline
  10. Madden NFL 15
  11. http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/batma...charts/0152801