The NPD January 2021 report has been released, and it finds total industry spending in January 2021 reached a January record of $4.7 billion, 4which is 42% higher year-over-year. Hardware dollar sales reached $319 million, which is 144% higher than in January 2020, making it the highest total January month since 2011 when $$323 million was achieved. Once again, Nintendo Switch was the best-selling hardware platform in units sold and was the highest of any January month since the Wii in January 2010. Like December, PlayStation 5 was the best-selling hardware platform in dollars sold in January, with the highest dollar sales total for a January month since the Wii in January 2009. In software, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was once again the best-selling game, and has been every month since its November launch. It is now the 20th best-selling video game in US history in tracked dollar sales. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla was the second best-selling game of January, and is now the second fastest-selling game in the Assassin’s Creed franchise in the US behind Assassin’s Creed 3. Switch’s best-selling title for the month, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, was fifth on the software chart. A look at the best-selling games for January can be found below. The best-selling games for individual consoles for January can be found in the gallery.
Spending on video game accessories reached $222 million, which is a 73% year-over-year bump. The Gamepad, Headset/Headphone, and Steering Wheel segments all achieved new January dollar sales records. The PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller White was once again the best-selling accessory.
