Wii Sold Most - Xbox 360 Made Most - PS3 Starred in 2009

ELSPA has released an object lesson in keeping absolutely everybody happy. Detailing the UK's 'second strongest year on record' the UK's video game peak body announced "Total sales of all videogames software amounted to £1.621 billion" and "total revenue for console hardware sales amounted to £1.06 billion, a decrease on 2008 mainly due to lowering average retail prices".

Says ELSPA, "Overall, the total gross generated in the UK during the first 52 weeks of 2009 from the sale of all videogames, software, hardware and accessories, was £3.311 billion. This equated to 114.2 million units sold all-told in the UK."

But how not to annoy any of the platform holders and leave each with a line to use in its own press releases? This is how.

"Nintendo Wii stormed the field with software sales of over 18 million units in the UK, retaining the title of Number One software format by units sold.

"Sony’s PlayStation 3 saw a dramatic increase by 14 per cent of software units sold, from 10.4 million units in 2008 to 11.9 million units in 2009. Overall, in 2009 UK consumers bought a total of 74.6 million videogame units – which works out at more than one per person in the UK."

There's another prize for PS3, "The Sony PlayStation 3 was the star console this year, posting a two per cent increase of units sold compared to 2008."

But what of the 360?

"Microsoft’s Xbox 360 which saw the biggest increase in software revenue in 2009, up four per cent from 2008 to earn £459 million and become the number one software format by revenue, overtaking the Nintendo Wii."

In short, Wii sold most units. Xbox 360 made most money. PS3 did its very best and sold more than last year.

There's also a tip of the hat for the PC. "The total value of console/PC gaming peripherals was £630 million in 2009, with total sales reaching 35.8 million units."