
The NPD Group today announced that it has formed an alliance with sales-tracking services around the world, including Gfk Chart-Track of Europe and Japan-based Enterbrain. The partnership allows NPD to release a global sales chart each month, providing the industry with a comparative view of the top five video game software titles by the top three markets - North America, Europe, and Japan.
“The video games business has become increasingly global, with the majority of the publishers releasing games in multiple markets,” said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group. “The U.S, as the world’s largest market will be able to view and compare sales for the first time outside of their own market.”
NPD sent over the first Top Global Markets Report today, covering year-to-date figures from January 2008 to July 2008. The data reveals Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV as the top selling title this year with 6,293,000 units sold combined in North America and Europe. Runner-up in all three regions was Super Smash Bros. Brawl at 5,433,000 units sold worldwide. Moving on, Mario Kart Wii pushed 4,697,000 units, Wii Fit sold 3,604,000 units, and Guitar Hero III sold 3,475,000 units.
For the complete sales breakdown by region, hit the jump. more »