Consumer spending on games up 17% to $3.45 billion in Q3

Gamers didn’t slow down game spending in Q3 in preparation for the next generation. In fact, consumers spent 17 percent more on game-related content in Q3 compared to the same period in 2012.

Sales-tracking firm The NPD Group revealed that consumers spent $3.45 billion on game content in Q3. That includes $1.3 billion in new physical software, $436 million on used and rented games, and $1.72 billion on digital, mobile, and social gaming.

“Trends during the third quarter were the best that we have observed since the second quarter of 2011, driven by growth across both the physical and digital sides of the video game industry,” NPD analyst Liam Callahan said in a statement. “The launch of Grand Theft Auto V helped propel the new physical sales by 20 percent and continued growth of console digital full games as well as downloadable add-on content is an indication of the renewed health of the industry.”

NPD notes that digital version of full games and downloadable content saw a 35 percent increase year-over-year. Between new physical games and full digital games and DLC, gamers spent $1.98 billion in Q3. That’s compared to $1.59 billion in Q3 of 2012.

The fourth quarter could see even more growth. Sony launched its PlayStation 4 last Friday, and Microsoft releases Xbox One at midnight.

“We expect that the launches of Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PS4 will continue to fuel consumer excitement and spending for games heading into the holiday season,” said Callahan.

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