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The NPD Group has released its report for June, revealing which consoles and games sold the best during the summer month in the United States. Starting with hardware, Nintendo’s NES Classic, which was brought back on June 29, was the month’s best-seller in terms of total units. However, Sony’s PlayStation 4 took the top spot as it relates to overall dollar sales.

This makes sense, of course, because the NES Classic costs significantly less than the PS4. Still, it’s an impressive performance for Nintendo’s classic system, especially when you consider it launched at the very end of June. Hopefully the rumoured N64 Classic comes next.

Also of note is that June 2018 was the first time since NPD’s tracking began in 1995 that a NES console was the best-seller in terms of unit sales.

While the Xbox One didn’t finish first, it had a strong June 2018. Sales, on a dollar basis, rose by nearly double compared to July 2017. Additionally, Nintendo Switch sales jumped by more than 50 percent, while PS4 dollar sales of course grew as well.

Overall, hardware spending in the US for June 2017 jumped by 52 percent year-over-year to $350 million. As mentioned, all major home consoles experienced growth, and the NPD Group said this was driven in part by the popularity of Fortnite, price cuts and bundles, and the re-launch of the NES Classic.

In terms of game sales, Nintendo’s Switch-exclusive Mario Tennis Aces was the best-selling game of June 2018 in the US. It passes the N64’s Mario Tennis to become the all-time single-month sales leader for a tennis game since NPD tracking began. Sony’s PS4-exclusive God of War was No. 2 in June, and it remains the second best-selling game of 2018 behind Ubisoft’s Far Cry 5. Another new Ubisoft game, the racing title The Crew 2, launched at the end of June and finished in the No. 4 position. Notably, it was outsold by Grand Theft Auto V, which was released nearly five years ago.

Another notable takeaway from June 2018 software sales is that the Switch was the only console that showed game sale growth in June. Additionally, full-game download sales grew “significantly,” thanks in part to GOTY/Remastered/Anniversary re-releases.

Overall, software sales in June 2018 across console, portable, and PC hit $374 million, which is down 1 percent compared to the same period last year. With hardware and software combined, total June 2018 gaming revenue jumped 25 percent to $1.1 billion.

June 2018:

*Titles marked with an asterisk do not include digital sales*

Top 20 Best-Selling Games On All Platforms

1. Mario Tennis Aces*
2. God of War
3. Grand Theft Auto V
4. The Crew 2
5. Far Cry 5
6. Mario Kart 8*
7. Lego Incredibles
8. FIFA 18*
9. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
10. Detroit: Become Human
11. Super Mario Odyssey*
12. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
13. Rainbow Six Siege
14. NBA 2K18
15. Call of Duty: WWII
16. MLB The Show 18
17. Assassin’s Creed: Origins
18. Vampyr
19. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze*
20. State of Decay 2

Top 10 Xbox One Games

1. The Crew 2
2. Grand Theft Auto V
3. Far Cry 5
4. State of Decay 2
5. PUBG
6. FIFA 18
7. Rainbow Six Siege
8. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
9. Call of Duty: WWII
10. Lego Incredibles

Top 10 PS4 Games

1. God of War
2. Detroit: Become Human
3. Grand Theft Auto V
4. FIFA 18
5. The Crew 2
6. MLB The Show 18
7. Far Cry 5
8. Vampyr
9. Lego Incredibles
10. Horizon Zero Dawn

Top 10 Nintendo Switch Games

(no digital sales)

1. Mario Tennis Aces
2. Mario Kart 8
3. Super Mario Odyssey
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
5. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
6. Lego Incredibles
7. Splatoon 2
8. Crash Bandicoot: N Sane Trilogy
9. Kirby Star Allies
10. Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition

Top 10 3DS Games

(no digital sales)

1. Pokemon Ultra Sun
2. Pokemon Ultra Moon
3. Mario Kart 7
4. Super Smash Bros.
5. Super Mario 3D Land
6. Detective Pikachu
7. Minecraft
8. Mario Party: The Top 100
9. Super Mario Maker
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

2018 Year-to-Date Top 10 Games

1. Far Cry 5
2. God of War
3. Monster Hunter: World
4. Call of Duty: WWII
5. Dragon Ball: Fighterz
6. Grand Theft Auto V
7. Mario Kart 8*
8. NBA 2K18
9. MLB The Show 18
10. Super Mario Odyssey*

12 Months Ending June 2018 Top 10 Games

1. Call of Duty: WWII
2. NBA 2K18
3. Destiny 2*
4. Madden NFL 18
5. Super Mario Odyssey*
6. Far Cry 5
7. Star Wars: Battlefront II*
8. Grand Theft Auto V
9. Assassin’s Creed: Origins
10. God of War

While it may feel like we’re living in the waning days of pop YA sci-fi/fantasy-lit film adaptations (an era ushered in by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in 2001 and one that lived large throughout the 2000s), the genre, it seems, still has a few flutters of life left in it yet. The pop YA sci-fi/fantasy The Darkest Minds, directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and based on the novels by Alexandra Bracken, may scratch the very particular YA itch possessed by those who grew up with the genre (and who perhaps miss it), but will certainly not usher in a new, secondary post-modern wave of post-Potter YA adventures. Unless, of course, and by some wild chance, it earns hundreds of millions of dollars.

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In one of the stranger and more surprising pieces of news this week, Bethesda has announced a partnership with mixed martial arts company UFC to have one of its competitors promote Bethesda games in Australia and New Zealand. As part of this, UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is becoming a “brand ambassador” for Bethesda in ANZ regions.

Whittaker, who was already a big fan of Bethesda’s games and is from Australia, will work with Bethesda on “various initiatives” to promote the release of Fallout 76 in November.

ZeniMax Australia boss Simon Alty said in a statement that Whittaker is a “perfect fit” to become Bethesda’s brand ambassador for ANZ regions. “Rob’s at an incredibly exciting time of his career and Bethesda is also in the process of announcing and releasing game-changing titles, so we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together,” he said.

For his part, Whittaker said he’s turned to gaming in the past to help relieve stress and recover after getting his body bashed in UFC fights. “I look forward to collaborating with Bethesda as they reveal more details about their upcoming releases and sharing this excitement with my followers and their community,” he said.

Fallout 76 launches on November 14 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Unlike previous entries in the acclaimed RPG series, Fallout 76 is an always-online, multiplayer-focused game, so it will be interesting to see how the community responds. A beta will be held prior to launch, and you can guarantee yourself a spot by pre-ordering.

Recent developments in World of Warcraft’s pre-Battle for Azeroth in-game event, War of the Thorns, have fans divided on the story moving forward into the latest expansion.

In War of the Thorns, the Alliance and Horde clash once again, this time with fan-favorite character Sylvanas leading the Horde. While the two factions have always been morally grey, Sylvanas’ most recent actions are solidly in the evil camp.

She was once a High elf, though her soul was taken from her body by the death knight Arthas. After that, she led the undead faction the Forsaken. Now she is in charge of the Horde, set on starting a full-fledged war with the Alliance. Her grizzliest act? Invading Northern Kalimdor and destroying Teldrassil, the World Tree.

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