UK games market falls 16% for H1 2010

Sales for video game software, hardware and accessories in the UK saw a decline of 16 per cent during the first half of 2010, it has been revealed today.

Data from Chart-Track shows that sales made from the first 26 weeks of this year stand at 963m – a drop of 180m from this time last year.

Software sales generated 533m, a year-on-year decline of 10 per cent while hardware sales were down 32 per cent at 256m. However, Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 saw a net combined increase in the amount of sales made.

ELSA director general Mike Rawlinson said: UK consumers are still facing economic uncertainty and everyone is looking to how they can make savings, which has naturally impacted on the entertainment industry as a whole.

However I am very encouraged by the innovative E3 announcements. With the introduction of Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move in addition to significant plans for 3D gaming on Nintendo 3DS and PS3, the market is sure to start buzzing.

UK consumers are also getting their gaming entertainment in a variety ways. They are increasingly downloading video games from websites, and are playing games on their mobiles or through social networking sites – not only on consoles. This is proof that interactive entertainment is expanding way beyond its traditional boundaries.”

The report doesn’t include pre-owned sales or games sold digitally.