2004 saw sales of over $9.9 billion, according to NPD sales data -- a decline of less than one percent when compared to $10 billion in Annual 2003. However, while dollar sales were down slightly, total industry unit sales were up 4 percent over the same period last year. Sales remained strong, thanks in large part to the console software, portable game software and portable game hardware categories.

Hardware releasesEdit

• Nintendo DS - November
• Playstation 2 Slim - November

RevenuesEdit

See also: Video games in the United States and Video game industry

• Total retail market - $9.9 billion [1] ($11 billion including PC games)
  • Software - $8.2 billion [2]
    • Console software - $6.2 billion
    • PC games - $1.1 billion [3]
    • Online games - $647 million
    • Wireless (mobile) games - $281 million

• Arcade market - $3.5 billion

Top 10 software salesEdit

Annual 2004 Top 10 Video Game Titles, Ranked By Units Sold

1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) - 5.1 million
2. Halo 2 (Xbox) - 4.2 million* includes Limited & Collector's Editions
3. Madden NFL 2005 (PS2) - 3.2 million
4. ESPN NFL 2K5 (PS2) - 1.5 million
5. Need for Speed Underground 2 (PS2) - 1.4 million
6. Pokemon FireRed (with adapter) (GBA) - 1.2 million
7. NBA Live 2005 (PS2) - 1.2 million
8. Spider-Man 2 (PS2) - 1.1 million
9. Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox) - 1.1 million
10. ESPN NFL 2K5 (Xbox)- 1.0 million

Monthly sales figuresEdit

External linksEdit

• NPD Group Reports Annual 2004 U.S. Video Game Industry Retail Sales; Console Software and Portable Game Hardware Lead Sales
• Videogame Sales Total $9.9 Billion in 2004
• NPD 1st half of 2004