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The console accessories market has always been pretty healthy in the UK, but last week’s Ukie Consumer Spend Valuation report showed it took a hit in 2016, with sales in the Peripherals and Accessories category down 16.6 per cent year-on-year.
However, this drop can traced to a number of factors. Firstly, part of the decline is due to VR now being considered as its own category and not part of accessories anymore. VR was worth £61.3m in 2016, but how much PSVR contributed to this figure is unknown, but before VR was split out, this particular headset would have been included as part of the console accessories category.
The fact that the console hardware market declined 26.7 per cent year-on-year could also explain why accessories suffered from a fall in 2016.
Overall, though, the peripherals and accessories market was still worth over £300m in 2016, which is healthy, and there are also plenty of accessories coming in 2017 (including a brand-new range thanks to the launch of the Nintendo Switch) that are going to boost the market this year.
Premium Console Case Zelda
PDP’s new Switch range includes this officially licensed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild case, which can store up to 14 game cards and also comes with a cleaning cloth.
SRP: $14.99 (£12)
Manufacturer: PDP
Distributor: CentreSoft
Contact: 0121 625 3388
Turtle Beach Elite Pro
Created for eSports players, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro is designed to maximise comfort during long gaming sessions. It features what Turtle Beach calls the ‘ProSpecs Glasses Relief System’, which, as the name states, alleviates ear cushion pressure for gamers who wear glasses.
SRP: £169.99
Manufacturer: Turtle Beach
Distributor: Exertis
Contact: 01279 822 822
Zelda Chat Earbuds
These stereo earbuds (with in-line chat microphone) can be carried in style thanks to their Zelda-themed case.
SRP: $19.99 (£16)
Manufacturer: PDP
Distributor: CentreSoft
Contact: 0121 625 3388
Charging Stand For Xbox One – Photon blue & Zest orange
Controller Gear’s new range of charging stands for Xbox One is now available to pre-order. There are eight different colours available.
SRP: £32.99
Manufacturer: Controller Gear
Distributor: Lime Distribution
Contact: limedistribution@limexb360.co.uk
Razer Panthera – Arcade Stick for PS4
This is the ultimate PS4 arcade stick, designed with professional players in mind. The joystick and 10 buttons are entirely customisable and the inside of the platform is also easily accessible for even more customisation possibilities.
SRP: £199.99
Manufacturer: Razer
Distributor: VIP Computers
Contact: 01925 286 900
LucidSound LS20
LucidSound’s LS20 compact, portable headset was designed for gamers who like to play on the go, making it a particularly good fit for the Nintendo Switch. It’s also compatible with other platforms, of course.
SRP: £79.99
Manufacturer: LucidSound
Distributor: Exertis
Contact: 01279 822 822
Turtle Beach – Stealth 520
This wireless gaming headset was designed for the PS4. It features Turtle Beach’s ‘Superhuman Hearing’ technology, which allows gamers to hear every enemy footstep and weapon reload from across the arena.
SRP: £79.99
Manufacturer: Turtle Beach
Distributor: Exertis
Contact: 01279 822 822
Nintendo Switch Starter Kit
This is an essential accessory for anyone wishing to make the most of the Switch’s portability. Venom’s starter kit includes a case, which can also store game cards, a screen protector, a microfiber cleaning cloth and earbuds.
SRP: £14.99
Manufacturer: Venom
Distributor: Open
Contact: 01763 284 181
