New data from The NPD Group and GfK Chart-Track shows that the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have achieved a total install base of approximately 43 million in North America and Europe as of December 31st 2015, this is an increase of 11 million from the previous quarter ending September 30th 2015. The install base has increased by approximately 19 million compared to the same period last year when the install base was around 24 million as of December 31st 2014. The numbers are based on hardware sales from North America (United States & Canada) and Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom etc…). The US accounts for more than 50% of the next gen install base in North America and Europe.
When compared to last gen, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 had a total install base of 28 million in North America and Europe at the same point in time when you align launches. To date the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have a total install base of 124 million across the two regions. It is worth bearing in mind that this comparison from The NPD Group and GfK Chart-Track do not include the Nintendo Wii in their last gen comparison nor the Nintendo Wii U in their current gen comparison and we believe that had these consoles been included then the Nintendo Wii would help push the last gen install base above the current gen install base when aligning launches and comparing the same point in time.
A total of 11 million PS4 & XB1 hardware units were sold through in North America and Europe during the holiday quarter in 2015, this is up from the 9 million units sold during the holiday quarter in 2014. The increase in PlayStation 4 and Xbox One sales during the holiday quarter was thanks to strong consumer demand, lower price to entry and compelling software titles only available on next gen such as Fallout 4, Halo 5 and Star Wars Battlefront. Activision Blizzard’s ‘Call of Duty’ Black Ops 3′ was the the number 1 best selling game in 2015 according to The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track and internal Activision Blizzard estimates.
According to The NPD Group, the top 10 titles accounted for 33% of the retail sales in the U.S. interactive entertainment industry in 2015. The NPD Group & GfK Chart-Track noted that physical software sales in 2015 were down year on year in North America and Europe, however the decline in revenue has been offset thanks to the increase in digitally distributed games, including full-game downloads, add-on content, and free-to-play games. Digital gaming revenues for the interactive entertainment industry in 2015, increased by approximately 20% as compared to 2014 with the primary drivers being micro-transactions and consumer purchases of full games via digital channels.
Source: Activision Blizzard 10k (SEC Filings)