VG247

June’s NPD figures have shown US game sales up 53 percent year-on-year, a spike caused by increased sales of Wii and DS, and the release of MGS4.

Total games-related sales hit $1.69 billion last month, up from $1.1 billion in the corresponding previous period.

Hardware sales grew 54 percent to $615.1 million from $399.2 million a year ago. Software sales jumped 61 percent to $872.6 million from $542.2 million.

“The video games industry continues to perform in the face of an ever-increasingly difficult economic environment as many turn to more in-home entertainment,” said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

“Even if growth slows over the back half of 2008, the industry is poised to achieve record-breaking revenues of over $22 billion for the year.”