Total Game Dollar Sales Increased 117% For Launch Week Versus the Prior Week

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, November 9, 2000 – The Sony PlayStation 2 video game platform brought in an estimated $165 million dollars in retail sales in the U.S. during its first three days on the market, October 26 through October 28, 2000, according to leading marketing information provider, The NPD Group, Inc. The majority of those sales were generated on the product’s first day at retail, when it almost immediately sold out of hardware units.

According to NPD TRSTSÒ video game tracking service, overall sales for the video game market, including hardware, software, and accessories, were up 117% in dollar sales for the week ending October 28 vs. the prior week. Sony PlayStation 2 garnered 52% of those sales.

PlayStation 2 hardware captured 75% of the next-generation console unit business during its first week on the market. PlayStation hardware declined from a share of 53% of the consoles sold the week before the PS2 launch to 12% between October 22 and October 28, 2000. Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast dropped from a combined share of 47% of the console units sold prior to the PS2 launch to 13% during the launch week. However, PS2 competitors actually did not suffer major sales slumps. Sega Dreamcast experienced a 25% increase in their console unit volume. Nintendo 64 and PlayStation experienced increases of 7% and 1% respectively week over week.

"PlayStation 2 is not only drawing repeat gamers to retail, but it’s also attracting newcomers to the video gaming market. This new platform will act as a catalyst to holiday sales, even with the expected product shortages. Both Nintendo and Sega will have strong product line-ups and the chance to capitalize on the PlayStation 2 shortages. We are expecting double digit growth this holiday season as the public attention is again focused on the video game industry," commented Ilene Haase, director of NPD Interactive Entertainment Service.

The Sony PlayStation 2 launch also impacted the software landscape, with the system taking eight of the top 20 titles ranked on units sold for the week ending October 28, 2000. In total, Sony PlayStation 2 had 30 titles in the market, generating over $33 million in retail volume. Retail pricing for Sony PlayStation 2 software averaged $50. By comparison, Dreamcast software sold at $39, Sony PlayStation was at $27, Nintendo 64 software sold at $49, and Game Boy Color titles’ average price was $26.

Although PlayStation 2 was in the spotlight the week ending October 28, Nintendo’s N64 Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask was still able to take top honors, ranking the number one title that week.

Top 20 Best Selling Video Game Titles Ranked on Units Sold
October 22 – October 28, 2000

Source: NPD TRSTS Video Games Service

Top 10 Best Selling PlayStation 2 Game Titles Ranked on Units Sold
October 22 – October 28, 2000

Source: NPD TRSTS Video Games Service