NPD Results for PC Gaming in 2007

Before you skip right to the numbers, keep in mind that NPD numbers don’t encompass digital downloads which explains why games like The Orange Box are conspicuously absent from the year’s top 10 chart.

Revenue from retail sales dropped nearly $60 million from $970 million in 2006 to $910.7 million in 2007. That doesn’t encompass revenue from subscriptions from MMOs, which continue to be a major chunk of the PC market. As for what the direct cause of the drop was, I would imagine it’s a combination of increased piracy and a larger usage of digital distribution as outlets like Steam become the norm for many PC gamers.

1. World Of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (Vivendi) - 2.25 million
2. World Of Warcraft (Vivendi) - 914,000
3. The Sims 2: Seasons Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts) - 433,000
4. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision) - 383,000
5. Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars (Electronic Arts) - 343,000
6. Sim City 4 Deluxe (Electronic Arts) - 284,000
7. The Sims 2 (Electronic Arts) - 281,000
8. The Sims 2: Bon Voyage Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts) - 271,000
9. Age Of Empires III (Microsoft) - 259,000
10. The Sims 2: Pets Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts) - 236,000

It’s no surprise to see World of Warcraft and The Sims dominate the list; I’d expect nothing different in 2008. There’s not much room for games that don’t belong to either of those series to make the list, but of the four that did, it’s somewhat odd to see Age of Empires III sell just over a quarter million units.

I really wouldn’t put much stock in these numbers for all of the aforementioned reasons. Whether or not PC gaming is struggling certainly cannot be ascertained from these figures, so don’t go crazy about how you just invested in a new 8800 when PC gaming is about to go down the toilet.

Which I’d like to think it isn’t.

via Gamasutra & Gaming Today