UK game sales up by 19 percent

Game sales in the UK totalled £519 million (approx $1 billion) in the first six months of 2007, according to data from industry body ELSPA and game sales compiler Chart-Track. These figures were up 19 percent on the same period in 2006, and 17 percent on the second half of last year, including the busy holiday season.

The total number of game units sold across all formats between the beginning of January and end of June was over 26 million. Hardware sales were up 51 percent on number of units sold, with the release of the Wii on December 8, and the PlayStation 3 on March 23. Revenues brought in by hardware came to £405 million ($814 million), which is a massive 87-percent increase over last year.

Nintendo is currently winning the console sales race, as its DS handheld accounted for a total of 72 percent of all handhelds sold. The Wii was also doing well despite some previous supply issues.

Total revenues for gaming gear sold, including software, hardware, and accessories, came to over £1 billion ($2 billion), a 42-percent increase on last year.

ELSPA's director general, Paul Jackson, commented, "We are thrilled to see the industry thriving and not only growing but soaring. With so many excellent titles now available for all ages, appealing to a wide audience, the industry is stronger than ever. The speed of the growth of the games industry is testament to the creativity, technology and diversity which is employed by the modern games business."

However, Jackson expressed concern for the UK games industry despite the bumper figures, stating that it believed the future of this "buoyant economy" was at risk from other countries such as Canada, which provides "massive" tax incentives to games companies based there.