Middling reviews couldn't stop Destiny from steamrolling every other game released in September, becoming not only the best-selling game of the year thus far but also the best-selling new IP ever in North America. Such is the news shared in the latest NPD report, which tracked all physical hardware and software sales in our region this past month.
The power of Destiny also increased PS4 and Xbox One console sales, although PS4 got the better end of the deal. While standalone copies of Destiny sold more on Xbox One, that special Destiny PS4 bundle ultimately made PS4 the platform of choice. September was PS4's biggest month of the year, as it sold roughly triple what it did in August, while the PlayStation Store had its best month ever.
While neither Activision nor Sony were willing to share hard numbers to the public, Nintendo was more than happy to spill the beans on its software. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was only tracked for two days, but it already hit 705,000 copies when combining physical and digital sales. Hyrule Warriors did a rather modest 190,000, which is fantastic considering how the Warriors series is rather niche in the West, while Mario Kart 8 finally broke 1.2 million in North America. Both Wii U and 3DS grew in sales compared to August, with Wii U rising by 50% and 3DS reaching 140,000, an increase of 55%.
Below is the top 10 software list for September. How the platforms are listed indicates the distribution of software sales from most popular to least. Also, bundled software is not included.
1. Destiny (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3)
2. Madden NFL 15 (360, PS4, PS3, Xbox One)
3. FIFA 15 (PS4, 360, PS3, Xbox One, Wii, Vita, 3DS)
4. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (3DS)
5. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
6. NHL 15 (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3)
7. Minecraft (360, PS3)
8. The Sims 4 (PC)
9. Disney Infinity 2.0 (360, PS3, Wii U, PS4, Xbox One)
10. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls (PS4, 360, PS3, Xbox One, PC)
