US gaming market grew 30 percent in the first quarter of 2021

US consumers spent $14.92 billion on gaming during the first quarter of 2021. That is according to the American research agency NPD Group. As a result, thirty percent more was spent on gaming compared to the same period last year.

Nearly all categories of the North American gaming market improved, according to the research firm. During the quarter, $12.8 billion worth of content was sold on PC and consoles, up a quarter from the same period last year. Sales of gaming hardware increased by 81 percent and that of accessories by 42 percent.

Sold the Nintendo Switch console according to Mat Piscatella, analyst at NPD Group, sold the most in absolute numbers during the first quarter of 2021, while the Playstation 5 sold the most in monetary terms. The PS5 is according to Piscatella also the fastest-selling console in United States history.

According to Piscatella, March also brought record US sales in the gaming hardware category. Then there was According to him sold $680 million worth of gaming hardware, up 47 percent from the same month last year. The Nintendo Switch console sold the most in March in absolute numbers and monetary value.

The noted increase in sales figures was fueled by the consequences of the corona pandemic and the recent introduction of the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series consoles, according to Piscatella. He warns on Twitter also for the impact that the global computer chip shortage will have on the second and third quarters of 2021 sales. According to NPD Group, the games Among Us, Animal Crossings: New Horizons, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Fortnite are among the most popular games of the moment.