Summary: <br> The monthly sales phenomenon we like to call the NPD (that’s National Purchase Diary) estimates for the gaming industry’s retail health are in, and it’s great news all-around for the month of July 2017. As usual, we’ve got number-loving editors Cory Galliher and Nathan Evans back as well to talk and dissect the good, bad, and ugly of what these impenetrable numbers all mean. And what they mean right now is simple: things are definitely looking up!<br> Total sales of new gaming hardware and software were up a respectable 19 percent over last year ($588 over $496). For an industry beset by constant declines month over month, to see such a remarkable rebound (and in such a short period of time) is promising.<br> One half of this welcome gravy train was new gaming hardware as anxious fans snatched up $182 million from last year’s $142 million, up an extremely healthy 29 percent. This rise comes from, once again, strong sales for Nintendo’s Switch, the month’s best-selling console. Supply constraints have held the new console’s ranking for several months, moving last month’s champion, Sony’s PlayStation 4, into second place for July.<br> The other half, of course, was new gaming software, which saw upward sales all-around. New console sales were up a nice 17 percent over last year ($263 million over $224 million). NPD reports this influx was primarily due to impressive results from console exclusives <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/splatoon-2/">Splatoon 2</a> for Switch and <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/crash-bandicoot-n-sane-trilogy/">Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy</a> for PlayStation 4. Speaking of Nintendo, they maintained their status as the month’s biggest publisher with other megahits like <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/zelda-breath-of-the-wild/">The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild</a> and <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/mario-kart-8-deluxe/">Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</a>, an impressive feat for a new platform with a much smaller install base.<br> Not to be outdone, even PC software felt the surge as new sales were up 14 percent over last year ($14 million over $12 million). Hey, growth is growth!<br> Sales of new game accessories were especially brisk for the month, up a sweet 9 percent over last year ($129 million from $118 million). Curiously, NPD reports that it wasn’t just sales for Nintendo Switch gamepads (most likely extra Joy-Cons), but also Xbox One gamepads as well.<br> Top Twenty Software: Splat-tastic!<br> 01. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/splatoon-2/">Splatoon 2</a><br><br> 02. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/crash-bandicoot-n-sane-trilogy/">Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy</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/final-fantasy-xii-zodiac-age/">Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age</a><br><br> 05. <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> 06. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/injustice-2/">Injustice 2</a><br><br> 07. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/mario-kart-8-deluxe/">Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</a><br><br> 08. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/overwatch/">Overwatch</a><br><br> 09. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege<br><br> 10. NBA 2K17<br><br> 11. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/tom-clancys-ghost-recon-wildlands/">Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands</a><br><br> 12. <a href="http://www.popzara.com/games/game-reviews/call-duty-modern-warfare-remastered/">Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered</a><br><br> 13. <a href="http://www.popzara."></a>
