PS3 Informer

PS3 Console Sales Up in August

Things in the video game industry are starting to heat up again after a slow month in July. NPD has released the sales numbers for last month, and they show a promising uptick in the sale of hardware and software across the board in August. The big winner for the month was Electronic Arts, whose latest installment in the popular Madden franchise dominated on both platforms at retail. Eidos, ahem, Square Enix also had a hit on their hands with the excellent Batman: Arkham Asylum. But Sony's PSP proved that it is still relevant, by posting respectable hardware numbers and grabbing a spot in the software charts, too. With a huge lineup of PSP games coming in holiday 2009, we are sure to see the handheld in the top ten during the coming months.

The big story is of course the Sony PS3, which sold well due to price cuts in anticipation of the PS3 Slim, which went on sale at the end of August. Next month is shaping up to be a win for Sony, but we're interested to see if Microsoft's price cut for the Elite system has an impact.

NPD Software Sales Charts for August 2009:

1. Madden NFL 10 (360) - Electronic Arts
2. Wii Sports Resort W/ Wii MotionPlus (Wii) - Nintendo
3. Madden NFL 10 (PS3) - Electronic Arts
4. Batman: Arkham Asylum (360) - Square Enix
5. Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3) - Square Enix
6. Madden NFL 10 (PS2) - Electronic Arts
7. Dissidia: Final Fantasy (PSP) - Square Enix
8. Wii Fit (Wii) - Nintendo
9. Mario Kart W/ Wii Wheel (Wii) - Nintendo
10. Fossil Fighters (DS) - Nintendo
11. Mario Kart DS (DS) - Nintendo
12. New Super Mario Bros. (DS) - Nintendo
13. Wii Play W/ Wii Remote (Wii) - Nintendo
14. Pokemon Platinum (DS) - Nintendo
15. NCAA Football 10 (360) - Electronic Arts
16. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (DS) - Nintendo
17. Madden NFL 10 (Wii) - Electronic Arts
18. Wolfenstein (360) - Electronic Arts
19. EA Sports Active Bundle (Wii) - Electronic Arts
20. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Wii) - Electronic Arts

NPD Hardware Sales Charts August 2009:

DS - 552.9k
Wii - 277.4k
360 - 215.4k
PS3 - 210.0k
PSP - 140.3k
PS2 - 105.9k

The inmates of Arkham Asylum kicked butt in August.