Sales for NCAA Football 14 were "down slightly" from last year's iteration, although it still managed to snag the top spot in software sales for July 2013. Furthermore, it was the only game in the top 10 that was actually launched in July, according to NPD Group.
“Though there was only one game in the top 10 that was launched in July (NCAA Football 14), collectively, new launches from July 2013 were up compared to games launching in July 2012. As there was about the same number of software SKUs launched this year versus last year, we are seeing an increase of dollars and units generated per SKU from games launches this July compared to last," the company, which tracks and monitors video game sales in the United States, said.
NPD also noted that Minecraft "continued to sell well in July, ranking second on unit sales."
Below are the top 10 software sales for July 2013, for the period of July 7 – August 3:
- NCAA Football 14 (360, PS3)
- Minecraft (360)
- The Last of Us (PS3)**
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II (360, PS3, NWU, PC)**
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)
- Far Cry 3 (360, PS3, PC)
- Battlefield 3 (360, PS3, PC)**
- Injustice: Gods Among Us (360, PS3, NWU)**
- NBA 2K13 (360, PS3, Wii, NWU, PSP, PC)**
- Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (360, Wii, NDS, PS3, 3DS, NWU, PSV, PC)
**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)
The news of NCAA Football's success comes in the midst of a giant controversy surrounding EA Sports' college football franchise. Mounting litigation pressure from a class-action lawsuit filed by former college athletes against the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Electronic Arts alleging the gaming giant’s games used their likenesses without permission has led to the NCAA and other college football conferences electing not to renew their trademark licensing with EA Sports. Despite the blows, EA Sports has vowed it will continue making college football games while signing a three-year deal with the Collegiate Licensing Company, the entity that handles trademark licensing and marketing services for universities.
