UK Overtakes Japan in the Videogame Market
by Dan Landis on February 2, 2009 at 5:11 am
While the U.S. remains on top in the videogame market, a surprising turn of events over the past several years has resulted in the UK videogame market emerging as number two, beating Japan for the first time in history.
Dorian Bloch, Business Group Director, GfK Chart-Track Limited, recently made the following statement:
“UK console videogame 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 downtown currently being experienced in Japan, the UK market has for the first time overtaken Japan as the No2 world market. Although still behind on revenue, the gap has narrowed considerably and it will be interesting to see how things develop during 2009.”
Additionally, the UK market saw the largest year-over-year increase with sales up 26 percent, besting U.S. figures of 15 percent and Japan’s disappointing drop in sales by 13 percent. Much of Japan’s decline is attributed to a drop in PS2 software sales by 46 percent.
According to Anita Frazier, industry analyst for the NPD Group, “Only two months in 2008 saw a decline in unit sales in the U.S., with one due in large part to the release of 360 Halo 3 in Sept’07 and the other due to an additional week in the Jan’07 retail calendar.”
Combined sales of these top three markets show an overall increase in the gaming industry of 11 percent, with sales of 409.9 million units versus the 367.7 million units sold across these markets in 2007. Hooray growth!
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6 Comments » |
on February 2, 2009 6:10 am
Not surprising, really. Japanese developers have been making comments about Japan’s decline for a while now.
on February 2, 2009 6:36 am
And we still don’t have SSF2THD or Rock Band 2. Treat us like the giant market we are, publishers!
on February 3, 2009 12:48 am
It’s disappointing, Japan produces better games. When this new “casual gaming” trend in the West dies out, I can see it returning to how it was. I’ll be pleased too, less 360 fanboys.
on February 3, 2009 1:45 am
The British are coming!! The British are coming!!
on February 3, 2009 2:36 pm
didnt they take your microsoft laptop away?guess they dont care about quality journalist on ripten.
on February 3, 2009 2:46 pm
And what exactly is your problem with this article, hmm?