As for why studios are undergoing closures and layoffs following a record-breaking year, NPD analyst Anita Frazier explained that "this is not a case of the rising tide lifting all boats...increases are not being enjoyed equally by all manufacturers and publishers."

2008's best-selling console games at U.S. retailers were:

1. Wii Play (Nintendo, Wii) - 5.28 million units
2. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo, Wii) - 5 million units
3. Wii Fit (Nintendo, Wii) - 4.53 million units
4. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo, Wii) - 4.17 million units
5. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar North, Xbox 360) - 3.29 million units*
6. Call of Duty: World at War (Treyarch, Xbox 360) - 2.75 million units*
7. Gears of War 2 (Epic, Xbox 360) - 2.31 million units*
8. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar North, PS3) - 1.89 million units*
9. Madden NFL 09 (EA Tiburon, Xbox 360) - 1.87 million units
10. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo, DS) - 1.65 million units

(*includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

NPD broke down the year's total $21.33 billion revenue as follows:

• Console Software - $10.96 billion (up 26% over 2007)
• Console Hardware - $7.81 billion (up 11% over 2007)
• Console Accessories - $2.57 billion (up 14% over 2007)