UK's Console Install Base Corrected

In the process of disclosing its financials for the 50 weeks leading to January 10th, GAME has dished up Chart-Track's figures on the installed base of the current generation of consoles and handhelds in the UK. Albeit, in the release to investors, it made an error when referring to last year's PSP install-base.

The error in the figure indicated that 2008's growth in hardware ownership was some 800,000 less than it should be. It showed that fewer PSPs were owned (not bought, but owned) in 2007 than in 2008. Without correction this would indicate slightly less growth in ownership in the UK.

Basically, the Game-published figures incorrectly put the install-base for the PSP as of January last year at 3.4 million and the figure as of this January at 3.2 million. SPOnG has spoken with Chart-Track and confirmed that the correct figure is 2.6 million and altered the figures accordingly.

In total (including handhelds) there are 22 million current-generation games machines in the hands of the British public. Topping the pile is the DS, with an installed base of 8.8 million. Behind it is the Wii, with 4.9 million, followed by a tie between the PSP and Xbox 360 at 3.2 million, with the PS3 rounding out the pack at 1.9 million.

Also shown is last year's install-base for each system, giving us (with a little maths) the biggest seller of 2008. The DS came out top again, having sold 3.4 million, the Wii sold 2.9 million, the 360 sold 1.4 million, the PS3 sold an even million while the PSP trailed at the back with sales of 600K.

You can see the correct figures in full below.

System	3rd January 2009 (millions)	5th January 2008 (millions)
Sony Playstation 3	1.9	0.9
Microsoft Xbox 360	3.2	1.8
Nintendo Wii	4.9	2.0
Total console	10.0	4.7
PSP	3.2	2.6
Nintendo DS	8.8	5.4
Total handheld	12.0	8
Total installed base	22.0	12.7

^{Source: GAME}