The UK games industry is set for a record breaking 2007, according to industry body ELSPA. Chart-Track, which compiles sales figures on ELSPA's behalf, tells us that game sales are going to hit around 78 million, while the amount of cash raked in by software is up at £1.52 billion. That's not all, either. Last week saw the UK games industry's biggest ever week of sales.
For weeks 1 through 50, the total number of units sold was up 16.6% on last year in terms of units and 25.3 percent in terms of value – £1.518 billion compared to £1.212 billion for weeks 1–50 in 2006. Last year, previously the UK's biggest ever games sales year, saw 65.1 million units sold in total.
Last week, game sales reached a whopping £87.9 million. This reflects a record breaking third quarter, with unit sales up 19% on last year from 12.61 million to 15.03 million and revenues up a massive 36% from £233.5 million to £332.6 million.
Hardware sales also did well, “thanks largely to the success of Nintendo’s DS Lite and Wii plus strong sales of Xbox 360 and PS3”, according to ELSPA. That's surprising, given the notorious Wii shortages of late, but there you go...
Unit sales have taken a 33% leap from 8.52 million to 11.33 million, while revenue is up 45% from £180.95 million to £263.20 million for the third quarter. It should be borne in mind, of course, that at this time last year the Wii had only just been released and the PS3 wasn't yet out.
Console games now account for 75% of software unit sales and 79% of revenues.
As you'd expect, ELSPA's director general, Paul Jackson, was chuffed. “2007 has been a fantastic year for our industry as all the latest generation of consoles and hand-held devices have become fully established”, he said. “Videogaming is now enjoyed by everyone, young and old, male and female. Interactive entertainment is now truly mass market, and this is just the beginning of a period of real sustained growth.”
For weeks 1 through 50, the total number of units sold was up 16.6% on last year in terms of units and 25.3 percent in terms of value – £1.518 billion compared to £1.212 billion for weeks 1–50 in 2006. Last year, previously the UK's biggest ever games sales year, saw 65.1 million units sold in total.
Last week, game sales reached a whopping £87.9 million. This reflects a record breaking third quarter, with unit sales up 19% on last year from 12.61 million to 15.03 million and revenues up a massive 36% from £233.5 million to £332.6 million.
Hardware sales also did well, “thanks largely to the success of Nintendo’s DS Lite and Wii plus strong sales of Xbox 360 and PS3”, according to ELSPA. That's surprising, given the notorious Wii shortages of late, but there you go...
Unit sales have taken a 33% leap from 8.52 million to 11.33 million, while revenue is up 45% from £180.95 million to £263.20 million for the third quarter. It should be borne in mind, of course, that at this time last year the Wii had only just been released and the PS3 wasn't yet out.
Console games now account for 75% of software unit sales and 79% of revenues.
As you'd expect, ELSPA's director general, Paul Jackson, was chuffed. “2007 has been a fantastic year for our industry as all the latest generation of consoles and hand-held devices have become fully established”, he said. “Videogaming is now enjoyed by everyone, young and old, male and female. Interactive entertainment is now truly mass market, and this is just the beginning of a period of real sustained growth.”
Companies:
ELSPA
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Comments
deleted 23 Dec 2007 04:29
1/1
Great for the games industry, but perhaps spong can help me, with the recent news that the retail industry in general is suffering quite poorly with sales and credit problems, is this effecting game retail stores, (game, gamestation and indies etc) also is this boost in gaming world buying helping other stores like HMV and Woolworths?