Warcraft helps PC game sales reach $970m

Blizzard's World of Warcraft was the best-selling PC game in North America during 2006 with over 969,000 units sold.

According to NPD data, the PC games market in the US grew by one per cent compared to 2005, to a total of US $970 million (EUR 747m).

PC gaming sales bring the combined value of videogame sales, including hardware, software and accessories, to US $13.5 billion (EUR 10.3bn).

World of Warcraft's closest competitor was Electronic Arts' The Sims 2, which sold over 598,000 units. However, EA still has reason to celebrate, with four expansion packs for the long-running franchise in the top ten.

The top ten PC title in the US:

1. World of Warcraft (VU Games)

2. The Sims 2 (EA)

3. The Sims 2: Open for Business (EA)

4. Star Wars: Empire at War (LucasArts)

5. The Sims 2: Pets (EA)

6. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Take 2)

7. Age of Empires III (Microsoft)

8. The Sims 2 Family Fun (EA)

9. Civilisation IV (Take 2)

10. The Sims 2 Nightlife (EA)

NPD also revealed the top ten best-selling games covering all handheld and console formats, excluding PC titles:

1. Madden NFL 07 (EA

2. Cars (THQ)

3. Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

4. NCAA Football 07 (EA)

5. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)

6. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA)

7. Gears of War (Microsoft)

8. Call of Duty 3 (Activision)

9. Lego Star Wars (LucasArts)

10. Fight Night Round 3 (EA)