March NPD: Mass Effect 3 on top, year-over-year decline

The sales figures for March have arrived via the NPD, with Mass Effect 3 out in front and overall numbers down compared to March 2011.

Industry sales during the past month totaled $1.10bn, 25 percent less than the same period in 2011.

Hardware sales were down 35 percent, accounting for $323.5m; and (down 35 percent) while non-PC software sales were down 25 percent, with $553.1m brought in.

The data confirms a continuation of the year-over-year decline seen thus far in each month of 2012; this despite a series of major AAA releases throughout March of this year.

Regardless, Microsoft has logged its 15th consecutive month with Xbox 360 as the top-selling console in the US marketplace.

While there’s little shock over Mass Effect 3 standing tall on the top 10 titles list, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City may come as a bit of a surprise at the two spot despite receiving unfavorable reviews.

Here’s the full list:

Top 10 Games (New Physical Retail only; across all platforms including PC)

Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC)

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (360, PS3)

MLB: The Show (PS3, PSV)

NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PS2, PC)

SSX 2012 (360, PS3)

Street Fighter X Tekken (PS3, 360)

Mario Party 9 (Wii)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC)

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (360, PS3)

Major League Baseball 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, NDS, PSP, PC, PS2)