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According to findings from Top Global Markets, an integrated monthly report from The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track Limited and Enterbrain, Inc., combined video game software unit sales across the world’s three largest games markets experienced growth of 11 per cent in calendar year 2008. 2008 software sales totalled 409.9 million units versus 367.7 million units in 2007.
Year-on-year growth in the US is reported as 15 per cent, while UK growth reached an impressive 26 per cent. The Japanese video game market, however, didn’t fair so well, experiencing a 13 per cent decline – driven by the decline in the PS2 software market. The PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii software markets each experienced positive year-over-year growth in Japan.
“Looking ahead to 2009, a string of star titles are lined up to hit the market, including DS’s Dragon Quest IX: Hoshizora no Mamoribito,” said Ricky K Tanimoto, Global Marketing Analyst, Enterbrain, Inc. “There are also big console titles scheduled for release in 2009, such as Monster Hunter 3 and Final Fantasy XIII leading us to anticipate the console software market will fuel sales of this year’s gaming market.”
In the UK console software grew 38 per cent and portable software achieved a 6 per cent gain. In the US console software saw a 22 per cent rise, while portable software achieved a modest 2 per cent increase.
“There are some incredible statistics within the Top Global Markets Report that highlight the differences between the three major markets in the world,” said Dorian Bloch, Business Group Director, GfK Chart-Track Limited. “In fact, UK console video game software units are more than double what was achieved in 2003, which just shows how fast the UK market has been growing. Because of this amazing growth and coupled with the downturn currently being experienced in Japan, the UK market has for the first time overtaken Japan as the No2 world market.”
Top 5 video game titles of 2008 – Total, US, Japan, UK
1. Mario Kart Wii 8.94mil, 5 mil, 2mil, 1.94mil
2. Wii Fit 8.31mil, 4.55mil, 2.15mil, 1.61mil
3. Grand Theft Auto IV 7.29mil, 5.18mil, 256K, 1.85mil
4. Super Smash Bros: Brawl 6.32mil, 4.17mil, 1.75mil, 404K
5. Call Of Duty: World At War 5.89mil, 4.46mil, 0, 1.43mil
About the Author
Grand Theft Auto IV
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Genre(s): Action, Adventure
