NPD: US Gaming Retail Software Sales up 21 Percent in August

The latest NPD figures for August 2013 have shown an improvement in retail game sales, up 21 percent.

The retail side of the video games market has gone through a rather turbulent time this year with the rise of both digital and mobile distribution, however key releases during August have helped. In terms of software, sales increased 21% to $305 million, the first month since November 2011 to see a year-on-year increase in retail software sales, according to GamesIndustry.

The top ten on the Nintendo side of things included Disney Infinity in third place, Splinter Cell: Blacklist in forth, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team in sixth, plus Wii U-exclusive Pikmin 3 in a healthy tenth position. Elsewhere Madden NFL 25 cemented itself in first place, followed by Saints Row IV - two titles that missed the Wii U boat.

Nintendo 3DS stormed the hardware charts, now the best-selling gaming hardware for the forth straight month.