Console Installed Base Nearly Doubles In UK In One Year
See Full ImageRecently, video game professionals in the UK have complained about a significant lack of new talent coming into the industry, and that's unfortunate. Obviously, gaming is big in that region; why not give a little back, guys?
Gaming is so big, in fact, that according to information gathered by High Street retailer The Game Group and GfK Chart Track, and reported on by GamesIndustry.biz, the next-gen console installed base has almost doubled in the past year. As of last month, the PlayStation 3 hit 1.4 million, the Xbox 360 is at 2.3 million, and the globally popular Wii is at 3.6 million. Both the PS3 and 360 have sold 1.1 million units since this time last year (so much for the 360 always outselling the PS3), and the Wii's user base has grown from 1.1 million to 3.6 million. This growth applies to handhelds, too; the DS rocketed from 3.8 million to 7.1 million while the PSP's base grew from 2.2 million to 2.9 million. In all, the total installed user base for the five consoles in question has nearly doubled in the UK: a total of 8.8 million this time in 2007 to about 17.3 million now. That's a pretty significant jump, and one of the reasons why Sony and other major publishers aren't about to ignore that region any longer.
Traditionally, the UK and Europe has received the short end of the stick when it comes to game releases; any gamer over there will tell you they usually have to wait longer than anyone else. But with gaming more of a worldwide phenomenon than ever, and the UK posting such big numbers, the days of Euro gamers sitting at the bottom of the barrel should be over.
10/1/2008 Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Subscribe to Ben Dutka on Twitter
