Starfield, the highly anticipated sci-fi RPG from Bethesda, has become the best-selling game of September 2023 in the U.S., according to the latest data from Circana, the industry-tracking firm. The game, which was released on September 15, 2023, for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5, has surpassed the sales of Mortal Kombat 1, the remake of the classic fighting game that was launched on September 22, 2023.
Starfield’s stellar performance
Starfield is Bethesda’s first new IP in 25 years, and it has been in development for almost a decade. The game is set in a vast open-world galaxy, where players can explore different planets, factions, and civilizations. The game features a branching storyline, dynamic quests, and a deep customization system.
Starfield has received critical acclaim from both critics and fans, who praised its immersive world, rich lore, and engaging gameplay. The game has an average score of 93 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 125 reviews. The game has also won several awards, including the Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2023.
According to Circana, Starfield sold 4.2 million units in September 2023 in the U.S., making it the fastest-selling game in Bethesda’s history. The game also generated $252 million in revenue, making it the highest-grossing game of the month. Starfield was the best-selling game on all three platforms it was released on, with Xbox Series X/S leading the sales with 1.8 million units, followed by PC with 1.5 million units, and PlayStation 5 with 900,000 units.
Mortal Kombat 1’s strong debut
Mortal Kombat 1, the remake of the original Mortal Kombat game that was released in 1992, was the second best-selling game of September 2023 in the U.S., according to Circana. The game, which was developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, was released on September 22, 2023, for PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
Mortal Kombat 1 is a faithful recreation of the classic fighting game, with updated graphics, gameplay, and features. The game includes all the original characters, stages, fatalities, and modes from the first Mortal Kombat game, as well as some new additions, such as online multiplayer, custom variations, and a cinematic story mode.
Mortal Kombat 1 sold 2.7 million units in September 2023 in the U.S., making it the best-selling fighting game of the year so far. The game also generated $162 million in revenue, making it the third highest-grossing game of the month. Mortal Kombat 1 was the best-selling game on Nintendo Switch with 800,000 units, followed by PlayStation 5 with 700,000 units, Xbox Series X/S with 600,000 units, and PC with 600,000 units.
Other notable games in September 2023
September 2023 was a busy month for the gaming industry, as six new games were released that made it into the top 10 of the bestsellers list for the month. Besides Starfield and Mortal Kombat 1, these games were:
- FIFA 24: The latest installment of the popular soccer simulation franchise from EA Sports was released on September 29, 2023, for PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game sold 2 million units in September 2023 in the U.S., making it the fourth best-selling game of the month.
- NBA 2K24: The latest installment of the popular basketball simulation franchise from Visual Concepts and 2K Sports was released on September 8,
2023 for PC , Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , and Xbox One . The game sold 1 .8 million units in September 2023 in the U.S., making it the fifth best-selling game of the month.
- Deathloop: The innovative action-adventure game from Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks was released on September 14 , 2023 for PC and PlayStation 5 . The game sold 1 .2 million units in September 2023 in the U.S., making it the sixth best-selling game of the month.
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The action-adventure game based on the Marvel Comics superhero team from Eidos Montreal and Square Enix was released on September 26 , 2023 for PC , Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , and Xbox One . The game sold 1 million units in September 2023 in the U.S., making it the seventh best-selling game of the month.
- Kena: Bridge of Spirits: The charming action-adventure game from Ember Lab was released on September 21 , 2023 for PC and PlayStation 5 . The game sold 800,000 units in September 2023 in the U.S., making it the eighth best-selling game of the month.
- Lost Judgment: The sequel to the detective thriller game from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Sega was released on September 24 , 2023 for Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 5 , PlayStation 4 , and Xbox One . The game sold 600,000 units in September 2023 in the U.S., making it the ninth best-selling game of the month.
The gaming industry’s growth in September 2023
The gaming industry saw a 10% increase in sales in September 2023 compared to the same month last year, according to Circana. The total video game sales reached $4.5 billion in September 2023, with video game content accounting for $3.4 billion, video game hardware accounting for $451 million, and video game accessories accounting for $177 million.
The growth in video game content sales was driven by the digital premium download spending across console and PC platforms, which increased by 13% year-over-year. The growth in video game accessories sales was driven by the PS5 Dual Sense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition, which was the best-selling accessory of the month.
The decline in video game hardware sales was due to the supply constraints and the high demand for the new generation consoles, especially the PlayStation 5, which remained the best-selling console in terms of dollar sales for the tenth consecutive month. The Xbox Series X/S saw a single-digit percentage growth in sales compared to last year, while the Nintendo Switch saw a decline in sales.
