Find out how the UK games market performed last year in MCV’s first issue of 2016

As we start 2016, MCV looks back at the last twelve months to see just how the UK games market performed.

In our first issue of the year, with the help of GfK Entertainment figures, we round up how much money the sector generated across hardware, software and accessories.

We also look forward to 2016, and with the assistance of members of the UK games industry, pick out the things that we are all most excited for in the coming year.

Meanwhile, John Kavanagh tells us why he went from heading up the likes of Crystal Dynamics and Paramount to taking the MD role at tiny Manchester-based indie studio Pixelbomb.

And PQube’s marketing boss Geraint Evans tells us about racing veteran Milestone’s brand new franchise, Sebastien Loeb Rally EVO.

Below are the full contents of this week’s issue. This week’s MCV can be read online here.

• COVER: PS4 and Xbox One shine but physical gaming sales drop to 2.1bn in 2015
• COVER: Retail dismayed by 500 Oculus Rift
• NEWS: New-look Curve eyes more acquisitions in bid to rejuvenate UK publishing scene
• NEWS: Warner reveales 1m UK LEGO Marvel sales as sequel looms
• NEWS: nDreams targets virtual reality publishing scene
• NEWS: BBC funnyman Miles Jupp to host the 2016 MCV Awards
• DATA: The Year that was – with fewer consoles and games sold year-on-year, 2015 might appear to have been a disappointing period, but that’s not entirely the case. We look back at last year’s games market
• 2016 PREVIEW: Both MCV and the UK games industry round up the 79 things we are most looking forward to in the coming twelve months
• INTERVIEW: John Kavanagh is a video game veteran who has headed up major games business like Paramount and Crystal Dynamics. So what has brought him to a tiny studio in Manchester? We found out what the draw of Pixelbomb was
• INTERVIEW: PQube marketing boss on Milestone’s brand new racing IP Sebastien Loeb Rally EVO, about the title’s four-month delay and how to keep pace in the crowded racing genre
• SHELF LIFE: Insane Games Wells’ Steve Walker on his customer’s shift away from traditional video games, developing more business lines and his expectations for VR
• APPOINTMENTS: New staff writer joins MCV and Develop
• MARGIN MAKERS: With LEGO Marvel’s Avengers on the horizon, MCV rounds up the best Marvel merchandise on the market
• INTERNATIONAL: MCV takes a look at Brazil – Latin America’s biggest games market
• TERRITORY REPORT: Console gaming may no longer be in fashion in some parts of Asia, but the region is home to a thriving mobile gaming scene