Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom becomes the second-highest best-selling game in the USA in May 2023
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was the best-selling game of May in the United States, where it also ranked as the second best-selling game of the year behind Hogwarts Legacy. There is no doubt that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been a sales success: since its release we have seen how it has led lists of best-selling video games in markets such as Spanish, Japanese or British. Now we also know that it was the best seller last month in the United States, where the video game and console sales report for May reflects that it debuted strongly in the North American market.
According to data shared by Circana’s Mat Piscatella, the latest season in The Legend of Zelda saga was the best-selling “premium” video game in May in the United States. Not only that: it was also instantly placed as the second best-selling game of the year in the American country. What is the first? That position is held by Hogwarts Legacy, available since February on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, and since May on PS4 and Xbox One.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom spreads success to everyone around it
The sales success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom not only concerns the game itself but also seems to have reinforced the sales of the previous season: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has returned to the US top 15. In addition, it could have had a lot to do with the fact that Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console of the month, both in terms of units and in dollars earned, although the truth is that it is common to see Nintendo’s hybrid in the first place of this market.
Interestingly, the success of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in accessory sales is also noticeable: Link’s amiibo was the best-selling accessory for May. This segment sold 14% more than in May of last year (a total of $159 million), with DualSende Edge in black being the best-selling product of the year so far.
A May of records in the United States
If we talk about overall revenue, gamers in the United States spent $4.1 billion on video games, hardware, and accessories during May, up 12% from May last year. In software, it grew 9% compared to the same month in 2022, standing at $3.6 billion. In consoles, the increase was more striking: 56% more than in May of the previous year, which means a total income of $338 million.
There are records in both sectors: the United States has experienced the best May in terms of console sales since 2008, and the best May in terms of physical video game sales since 2014. The Switch has also posted its best May behind 2020, and PS5 (which remains the best-selling console of the year in dollars and units) has seen undetermined “double-figure percentage” growth. The rest of the consoles have sold less this May than in 2022, although the general spending on hardware so far in 2023 is 23% higher than last year (with 2.2 billion dollars in total).
