Switch topped US console unit sales in 2022 as wider industry sales declined 5%

Nintendo Switch was the United States’ leading console last year in terms of unit sales, according to market research firm the NPD Group.

Announcing both December and full-year sales data on Tuesday, NPD said Nintendo’s console sold a greater number of units than Sony’s across both time periods, but that the more expensive PS5 led hardware dollar sales for the month and 2022 as a whole.

New entries on December’s software sales chart, which was led by Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, included Need for Speed Unbound at No.8, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion at No.10 and The Callisto Protocol at No.17.

As recently reported, Modern Warfare 2 was 2022’s best-selling game ahead of Elden Ring, Madden NFL 23, God of War Ragnarök and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

Overall consumer spending on game hardware, content and accessories in December hit $7.6 billion, an increase of 2% compared to 2021, with hardware sales up 16%, offsetting a 1% drop in content sales and a 2% fall in accessories sales.

December’s figures took overall consumer spending on hardware, content and accessories in 2022 to $56.6 billion, which was down 5% compared to a year earlier.

Further reading

Nintendo Switch and FIFA 23 led European games industry sales in 2022

Console and PC software sales declined 7.1% compared to 2021

“Gains in spending in hardware and subscription content were offset by declines across other areas of spending,” said NPD analyst Mat Piscatella.

“Factors impacting 2022 spending included continued supply constraints of console hardware, a relatively light slate of new premium releases, and macroeconomic conditions.”