Console accessories have been a staple of the gaming industry as far back as the original NES with its selection of console add ons like R.O.B. and the Zapper. Players can have the most up-to-date systems or the largest collection of critically acclaimed games around, but that might not count for much without the various peripherals. A sturdy controller here or a long-lasting headset there can make all the difference to a play session, and while there are some really weird controllers that have come about in the past, recent statistics have shown that sales of accessories are only going up according to a spokesperson for the NPD Group.
The NPD Group, a US market research firm founded in 1966 which looks at consumer spending, has reported that video game accessories have experienced huge boosts in sales. In fact, sales records were smashed with US gamers dropping around $222 million on controllers, headsets and other peripherals for January 2021 alone. According to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella, that's an increase of 73% compared to last year.
Some manufacturers seemed to do better than others as it appears that Sony came out on top, Piscatella says in the report. He says the best-selling accessory of January this year was the PS5 DualSense Controller, while the PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset White did equally well by being the best-selling headset overall. All this despite sales figures for new-gen consoles being constricted due to supply shortages.
The lack of console availability since December's launch doesn't seem to have deterred gamers from still pouring a lot of money into their passion. In fact, hardware shortages only seem to have encouraged higher spending on accessories. Even steering wheels seem to be doing well, according to the report. It might not be too surprising, however. There are a lot of accessories to choose from when it comes to video games, and some of these can ending up costing quite a lot of money. Some may even remember the PlayStation 3D Display TV which went for nearly $450 at the time of release back in 2011.
NPD Group are the firm that unveils the best-selling games each month, and when it comes to game statistics and trends, it paints a picture of what gaming has become. Despite the Covid pandemic that's still ravaging much of the planet one year on, gaming seems to consistently come out on top as the number one form of entertainment for millions of people. With these sales trends expected to keep on going, the industry can only continue to thrive long after the planet returns to some semblance of normality.
Source: VentureBeat
