August NPD: Darksiders 2 on top, totals still down year-over-year

The NPD Group has released its latest monthly report on US retail, showing Darksiders 2 claimed the software crown amidst another month of decline for the market.
Total retail spending was down 20 per cent year-over-year, at $515.6m compared to 2011’s $647.2m.
Hardware sales were down 39 per cent, bringing in $150.6m compared to the $248.4m made last year. Xbox 360 sold nearly 200k units to stay atop the category for its 20th straight month.
PS3 and 3DS don’t have anything to frown about either according to NPD’s Anita Frazier.
“Of the platforms that were on the market last August, none realized a year-over-year sales increase. However, compared to July 2012, the 3DS and the PS3 both experienced unit sales increases in August,” Frazier explained.
Software came in at at $237.7m, down nine per cent compared to last August’s $261.8m take. Not so bad, especially if you keep in mind these numbers omit earnings from digital sales, microtransactions and subscriptions.
“One factor contributing to the softness we have seen in retail content sales so far in 2012 has been the decline in the sheer number of new titles. This, however, was not the case in August because there were more new titles when compared to last year; titles with sales that were significantly better than last year’s launches,” Frazier added. “So, what we’re seeing impact August results is the domino effect of the light release schedule from earlier in the year. That lack of new releases has had a significant impact on subsequent month’s sales.”
As far as individual products go, Darksiders 2 finished ahead of a power pair of 3DS titles. New Super Mario Bros. 2 grabbed the runner-up spot ahead of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.
Nintendo has chimed in with retail numbers for both of the aforementioned titles. NSMB2 sold over 240k units, and Dream Drop Distance moved over 180k units.
Top-selling software August ‘12

1. Darksiders 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
2. New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS)
3. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream, Drop Distance (3DS)
4. NCAA Football 13 (PS3, Xbox 360)
5. Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (3DS, DS, PC, PS3, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360)
6. Sleeping Dogs (PS3, Xbox 360)
7. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (PS3, Xbox 360)
8. Batman: Arkham City (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops (DS, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
10. The Amazing Spider-Man (3DS, DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)

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