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NPD October 2018: Black Ops 4 is the best-selling game of the year, October spending on games sets a new record

The October NPD report has dropped and it seems that you lot couldn't get enough of your gaming, spending a hefty $1.55 billion on your hobby.

The NPD data for the US market is in for the month, and this year saw a record-breaking October since tracking began, with a huge $1.55 billion spent across hardware, software, accessories, and games.

The previous record for October was set in 2008, which saw spending reach $1.36 billion. In terms of year-on-year, spending is up 73% for the month, and 21% year-to-date compared to 2017, with a current figure of $10.5 billion.

Software

As we approach Thanksgiving - and all things Back Friday related, which you can check out here - Activision has a lot to be thankful for; Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 was the best-selling game of October, and the year-to-date.

The publisher's Q3 report revealed that the title sold more units in its first three days than both Black Ops 3 and WW2's launch. The NPD data shows that over the past 12 months, it's the second best-selling game, behind Call of Duty: WW2.

Red Dead Redemption 2 was the second best-selling game of October, and the year so far, selling three times as many units at launch than Red Dead Redemption.

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey was October's third best-selling game, followed by NBA 2K19, and Super Mario Party, which is now the third fastest selling Mario Party game in history, behind Mario Party, and Mario Party 8.

Hardware

Hardware spending is up 26% year-on-year, coming in at $300 million, with both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One enjoying "significant gains in spending."

PlayStation 4 was the best-selling console of the month. In terms of units sold, October 2018 set a record for the console, as well as for any PlayStation console in an October month since the PS2 in October 2002, seeing dollar sales at the highest they've been for an October since 2014.

You can check out the full NPD software charts below, which account for both physical and digital titles for publishers in the Digital Leader Panel.

NPD All Platforms Software charts – October 2018

October 2018 Top 20 Games

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  4. NBA 2K19
  5. Super Mario Party
  6. Soul Calibur 6
  7. FIFA 19
  8. Marvel's Spider-Man
  9. Madden NFL 19
  10. WWE 2K19
  11. Forza Horizon 4
  12. Lego DC Super Villains
  13. My Hero One's Justice
  14. Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
  15. Mario Kart 8
  16. GTA 5
  17. Super Mario Odyssey
  18. Diablo 3
  19. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  20. NHL 19

NPD Top 10 Games – Year-to-date

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Far Cry 5
  4. Marvel's Spider-Man
  5. NBA 2K19
  6. God of War
  7. Monster Hunter: World
  8. Madden NFL 19
  9. GTA 5
  10. Call of Duty: WW2

NPD Top 10 Games YOY (October 2017-2018)

  1. Call of Duty: WW2
  2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  3. Red Dead Redemption 2
  4. Far Cry 5
  5. Star Wars: Battlefront 2
  6. Super Mario Odyssey
  7. Marvel's Spider-Man
  8. NBA 2K19
  9. God of War
  10. NBA 2K18

October 2018 Top 10 Xbox One Games

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  4. Forza Horizon 4
  5. NBA 2K19
  6. Madden NFL 19
  7. FIFA 19
  8. WWE 2K19
  9. Soul Calibur 6
  10. Shadow Of The Tomb Raider

October 2018 Top 10 PlayStation 4

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  4. Marvel's Spider-Man
  5. Soul Calibur 6
  6. NBA 2K19
  7. FIFA 19
  8. WWE 2K19
  9. Madden NFL 19
  10. My Hero One's Justice

October 2018 Top 10 Nintendo Switch (physical only)

  1. Super Mario Party
  2. Mario Kart 8
  3. Super Mario Odyssey
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  5. Diablo 3
  6. Starlink: Battle For Atlas
  7. Dark Souls Remastered
  8. The World Ends with You: Final Remix
  9. Lego DC Super Villains
  10. My Hero One's Justice

October 2018 Top 10 Nintendo 3DS (physical only)

  1. Luigi's Mansion
  2. Pokemon: Ultra Sun
  3. Pokemon: Ultra Moon
  4. Mario Kart 7
  5. Minecraft
  6. Super Smash Bros.
  7. Super Mario 3D Land
  8. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
  9. Mario Party: The Top 100
  10. New Super Mario Bros. 2

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