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Xbox One wins September NPD, giving Microsoft three consecutive months in the top spot [Update]

Xbox One is still out-performing PS4, which is a grand return on Microsoft's refocused efforts.

xbox one s

Xbox One was the best selling console at US retail last month according to the NPD Group's September 2016 report, Microsoft has announced.

It's the third month in a row Microsoft and the Xbox One have beat back Sony's PS4, after an almost unbroken two and a half year dominance by the Japanese giant in Microsoft's traditional best territory.

Microsoft said it also took the number one spot in the UK in September 2016, drawing on Gfk Entertainment's data, and that Xbox One was the only console to show year-on-year growth in the US, the UK, Australia and other territories during September 2016.

It's not hard to see why Xbox One is suddenly holding its own again - the original model Xbox One is cheaper than ever, and the Xbox One S is a very nice hardware refresh.

After so long in distant second place it'll probably be quite some time before the Xbox One install base can challenge the PS4, but remember that PS3 and Xbox 360 ended up neck and neck after the PS3's rubbish start last generation, so it's certainly possible - even with the PS4 Slim's release late in September and the upcoming PS4 Pro.

NPD September 2016 top ten software chart

Sports games ruled the roost this year, unchallenged by any major new releases. Destiny: Rise of Iron didn't get a physical release, and it's not clear whether the digital version would be included in this chart since it was peddled as an add-on rather than a standalone release as The Taken King was last year.

Note that the NPD did not have PC sale data for Overwatch, or any digital sales data for Forza Horizon 3. Microsoft said Forza Horizon 3 was the best-selling first-party Xbox One game in the US, UK and Australia for September 2016, though.

  1. NBA 2K 17
  2. Madden NFL 17
  3. FIFA 17
  4. NHL 17
  5. Bioshock: The Collection
  6. Destiny: The Collection
  7. Grand Theft Auto 5
  8. Overwatch
  9. Forza Horizon 3
  10. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

NPD September 2016 general

Year-on-year, total industry spend at retail in the US was down 23% in September 2016, totalling $838.2 million.

Software fell 27% year-on-year from $581.1 million to $453.4 million Hardware fell 25% year-on-year from $311.7 million to $234.3 million. Accessories fell 27% from $179.5 million to $130.8 million.

That's compared to September 2015's $1.09 billion. The NPD's Sam Naji said the PS4 Slim and Xbox One S could not offset declines due to a weaker release slate; lots of strong new releases always boost sales in other categories, too. Last September saw the release of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Destiny: The Taken King, Mad Max, Disney Infinity 3.0 and Super Mario Maker.

Interestingly, 3DS hardware sales figures rose again, which Naji says makes the fourth month in a row - presumably due to Pokemon Go's July release.

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Brenna Hillier avatar

Brenna Hillier

Contributor

Based in Australia and having come from a lengthy career in the Aussie games media, Brenna worked as VG247's remote Deputy Editor for several years, covering news and events from the other side of the planet to the rest of the team. After leaving VG247, Brenna retired from games media and crossed over to development, working as a writer on several video games.

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