Summary: <br> While the excitement and interest-growing extravaganza of E3 2017 is over and done with, it’s time for our backwards-looking snapshot of what rocked and rolled the gaming industry just prior to gaming’s biggest industry event. This means NPD’s estimates for May 2017.<br> As usual, our calculator-toting editors Cory Galliher and Nathan Evans are here to look, examine, and break down what the numbers mean, how they translate into success/failure for industry health and growth, as well as the cultural significance of game placement on all those confusing software lists.<br> Also, to our non-litigious friends over at NPD who we KNOW listen (and read! and occasionally comment!) to this podcast, we swear there’s no silly errors this time around. Perfection is may be nigh impossible, but we’re still trying (thanks, Sam!).<br> Sales of new gaming hardware rang up $147 million, which is actually up a smooth 7 percent over last year ($138 million). Supply constraints led to last month’s console champ, <a href="http://www.popzara.com/tech/gaming-review/nintendo-switch-console/">Nintendo’s Switch</a>, fall to second place for the month, leaving our usual champion, Sony’s PlayStation 4, to reclaim its familiar role as the number one selling console for the month.<br> One reason for the slight uptick: NPD analyst Mat Piscatella is quick to note that the Switch “continues to be the primary catalyst for hardware spending gains”. In fact, the Switch is responsible for a healthy 18 percent growth increase in total hardware spending year over year.<br> The cause? Despite a <a href="http://www.popzara.com/movies/movie-reviews/wonder-woman-2017/">Wonder Woman</a>-powered launch of <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/injustice-2/">Injustice 2</a>, a lack of huge AAA Multiplatform blockbusters. Unlike last year, which saw a powerhouse trio of <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/uncharted-4-thiefs-end/">Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End</a>, <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/overwatch/">Overwatch</a> (which continues to be a presence on the Top Ten), and <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/doom-2016/">DOOM</a>, this year’s relatively soft debut of Prey and holdovers hasn’t set the charts on fire. Also, its worth noting that Nintendo claimed nearly half the Top Ten best-sellers on both of its exclusive platforms, the Switch and 3DS.<br> Sales of gaming accessories, however, did manage to eke out a modest 1 percent increase ($112 million over last year’s $111 million), most likely owing to sales of Nintendo Switch accessories and controllers like extra Joy-Cons; gonna need those for hybrid home/mobile multiplayer action!<br> Top Twenty Software: Wonderful!<br> 01. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/injustice-2/">Injustice 2</a><br><br> 02. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/mario-kart-8-deluxe/">Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</a><br><br> 03. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/grand-theft-auto-v-ps4-xbox-one/">Grand Theft Auto V</a><br><br> 04. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/zelda-breath-of-the-wild/">The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild</a><br><br> 05. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/prey-2017/">Prey</a><br><br> 06. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/tom-clancys-ghost-recon-wildlands/">Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands</a><br><br> 07. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadow of Valentia<br><br> 08. NBA 2K17<br><br> 09. MLB 17: The Show<br><br> 10. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/overwatch/">Overwatch</a><br><br> 11. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege<br><br> 12. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/horizon-zero-dawn/">Horizon Zero Dawn</a><br><br> 13. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/call-duty-infinite-warfare/">Call of ...</a>
