Analyst: Expect sharp decline in NPD sales through July

Financial services firm Cowen & Company has projected a steep decline for videogame retail sales over the next few months.

Games Industry reports on a note from the company forecasting a rather bleak period between now and the annual Madden NFL release in August.

Following a strong March line-up that included releases from Bioshock, Tomb Raider, God of War and Gears of War series, there appears to be nothing but a large impending gap with no blockbuster bridges in sight until the NFL licensed franchise hits.

Cowen and Company analyst Doug Creutz specifically predicted a 13 per cent downswing for NPD’s April software sales, compared to the same period in 2012. Creutz added that he believed the double-digit sales dip trend for US retail would continue through July.

Fortunately, the projected sales recovery marked by the arrival of Madden is expected to continue – with big name titles Grand Theft Auto V launching in September and Battlefield 4 landing in October.