August was a busy month for video games. This past month saw several releases that kicked off the second half of 2022’s busy release cycle. From new iterations in popular series, to reboots of long forgotten franchises, August had a little bit for everyone. Thanks to data from The NPD Group, we can see just how certain games performed, and how the industry did overall. Unsurprisingly, Madden NFL 23 topped sales charts in August.
Madden NFL 23 Stands Out in August
EA Sports’ latest release built up a lot of hype leading up to the August 19 launch date. The Madden series is no stranger to the top selling spot, especially in its release month. If past trends continue this year, expect to see Madden NFL 23 on this list in the months to come as well.
Following Madden NFL 23 sales at the number 2 spot is another new release in a popular series. Saints Row (2022) takes the second spot on the best-selling list for August. The reboot of the classic franchise seems to have performed well in terms of sales.
Probably the biggest jump on this list is Marvel’s Spider-Man, coming in at number 3. Insomniac Games’ 2018 smash hit rocketed up the chart from the 84th spot last month. This major jump is due to the game becoming the latest PlayStation exclusive to be ported to PC. This port featured a host of new visual and accessibility settings, as well as the new facial design for Peter Parker that was featured in the PlayStation 5 version of the game.
Who Else is in the Top 5?
Rounding out the top 5 are Game of the Year frontrunner Elden Ring and Warner Bros. Interactive’s MultiVersus. Other sports games in the top 20 include Mario Kart 8 (#6), MLB The Show 22 (#9), and Gran Turismo 7, which jumped up from 31 to 17 this month. Call of Duty: Vanguard fell out of the top 10, coming in at 13th in August. It will be interesting to see how this game continues to sell leading up to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II in October.
Total video games sales were down 4% last month compared to August 2021. However, video game hardware sales were up 14% compared to August 2021, partially due to current-generation consoles becoming easier for consumers to purchase.
Did you pick up any new games, or maybe a new console in August? What are your reactions to some of the games at the top of last month’s sales chart? Join our official Discord and let us know, and be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to keep up with everything sports gaming.
