Microsoft's console was the top-selling console for the 29th consecutive month, and total spending on its platform hit $149.8 million during the period. June 18, 2013 5:00 AM PDT (Credit: Microsoft) Microsoft's Xbox 360 was the top-selling console in May, but its sales figures weren't all that impressive. According to the software giant, it sold 114,000 Xbox 360 units in the U.S. in May, leading all other console makers. By beating its competitors, Microsoft was able to nab its 29th consecutive month as the leading console seller in the U.S. Perhaps the more surprising point there, though, is that Nintendo's Wii U, which came out just last year, sold less than 114,000 units. It's to be expected that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 would have fewer sales, since they're getting old and consumers know they'll be replaced later this year. The Wii U, however, is new. And as the last several months have proven, it's not catching on in the U.S. Related stories Lewis Black gives middle finger to Google Glass and Xbox The 12 most exciting games of E3 2013 Explore 360-degree 3D models of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 6 things we learned at E3 2013 Nintendo: Our 'powerhouse' franchises will ignite holiday sales In its own statement on sales figures in May, Nintendo didn't even mention its poorly performing Wii U. Instead, the company focused on the Nintendo 3DS, which research firm NPD found, was the top-selling hardware platform in May. Neither NPD nor Nintendo revealed exact sales numbers. Sony was also quiet about unit sales. Overall, it was a difficult month for the gaming industry, which saw total physical sales (essentially, everything gaming-related sold except for digital content) drop from $517 million last May to $386.3 million this time around. Total hardware spending fell 31 percent to an abysmal $96 million. Even software sales were down 44 percent, falling to $187.6 million.
Microsoft's console was the top-selling console for the 29th consecutive month, and total spending on its platform hit $149.8 million during the period.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 was the top-selling console in May, but its sales figures weren't all that impressive.
According to the software giant, it sold 114,000 Xbox 360 units in the U.S. in May, leading all other console makers. By beating its competitors, Microsoft was able to nab its 29th consecutive month as the leading console seller in the U.S.
Perhaps the more surprising point there, though, is that Nintendo's Wii U, which came out just last year, sold less than 114,000 units. It's to be expected that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 would have fewer sales, since they're getting old and consumers know they'll be replaced later this year. The Wii U, however, is new. And as the last several months have proven, it's not catching on in the U.S.
Related stories
- Lewis Black gives middle finger to Google Glass and Xbox
- The 12 most exciting games of E3 2013
- Explore 360-degree 3D models of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4
- 6 things we learned at E3 2013
- Nintendo: Our 'powerhouse' franchises will ignite holiday sales
In its own statement on sales figures in May, Nintendo didn't even mention its poorly performing Wii U. Instead, the company focused on the Nintendo 3DS, which research firm NPD found, was the top-selling hardware platform in May. Neither NPD nor Nintendo revealed exact sales numbers.
Sony was also quiet about unit sales.
Overall, it was a difficult month for the gaming industry, which saw total physical sales (essentially, everything gaming-related sold except for digital content) drop from $517 million last May to $386.3 million this time around. Total hardware spending fell 31 percent to an abysmal $96 million. Even software sales were down 44 percent, falling to $187.6 million.
