October 2015 NPD: Xbox #1, PS4 Sales Down YoY Despite Price Drop, Uncharted Struggles

November 12, 2015

The October 2015 NPD Group results have been published, and they're arguably the most surprising of any in recent memory.

For one, Microsoft claimed a big victory by selling more Xbox One consoles than any other console manufacturer, up 81% year-over-year. Halo 5: Guardians made a huge impact, and in-fact took the top selling software slot despite only being on the market for five days out of the entire month.

Software was as follows:

1. Halo 5: Guardians (XBO)

2. NBA 2K16 (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3)

3. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (PS4, XBO)

4. Madden NFL 16 (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3)

5. WWE 2K16 (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3)

6. FIFA 16 (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3)

7. Destiny: The Taken King (PS4, XBO, 360, PS3)

8. Yoshi's Wooly World (NWU)

9. Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (PS4)

10. Rock Band 4 (XBO, PS4)

As seen above, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection took the ninth spot despite being Sony's most marketed first-party title during the period. In addition, the PS4 sold fewer units during the month than October of last year, and this was with a $50 price drop to begin the month.

This is just a prelude to the two months that matter most: November and December. Starting in just a couple weeks huge Black Friday deals will hit the market which will include a $299 Xbox One and PS4. Millions of consumers are expected to make a big purchasing decision at that time. Whether they decide on the Wii U, PS4, or Xbox One is yet to be determined, but last month's success in addition to a strong first-party line-up, and a UI/backward compatibility update hitting this week could potentially tilt things strongly in Microsoft's favor.

Although Jonathan Leack began covering the gaming industry in 2009, his earliest roots date back to 2004 when he wrote his first of many reviews to come. Equipped with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and several information technology certifications, he provides a unique perspective that is technological and business conscious. Having acquired the role of Executive Editor in 2016, his mission is to make GameRevolution a gaming site that thoughtfully considers the consumer perspective, and has a knowledgeable presence of PC gaming, console, hardware, and eSports coverage.