Video games sales to top CDs and DVDs

Video games are predicted to become the UK's most popular form of entertainment this year, it was reported today.

UK consumers are expected to spend £4.64bn on video games in 2008 - an increase of 42% - with music and video sales accounting for a total of £4.46bn, analysts from Verdict Research told the BBC.

According to research, the video games market has more than doubled in value in the last five years, with the popularity of new titles such as Grand Theft Auto IV and FIFA 08 and the Nintendo Wii contributing to the massive growth.

However, the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) told the BBC the figures may prove misleading because they include sales of games hardware as well as software.

Steve Redmond, of the ERA, said: "There is no doubt that the games sector is having a fantastic year. But these figures overstate that by including games hardware.

"Our prediction is that games will overtake video by the end of this year, but not music and video combined."

The ERA's 2007 figures put games software sales at £1.7bn, and revenues for music at £1.4bn and video at £2.2bn.

But a shift in consumer behaviour towards buying CDs and DVDs online means high street retailers are in for tough times, Verdict Research said.

Digital downloads only make up around 4% of music and video sales.

Malcolm Pinkerton of Verdict Research told the BBC: "The music and video market is not just suffering from a slowing of growth but a massive transfer of spend to online."

He said high street music retailers such as HMV and Zavvi were having to adapt to a difficult climate.

"They're cutting back on space in music and re-allocating it to more lucrative areas such as MP3 players, books, clothing and video games."

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Is Ridley Scott the most macho man in movies?

Ridley Scott: The most macho man in movies?

His cinematic CV is unparalleled. Yet the Alien director is still obsessed with beating his rivals.
Being Gary Lineker: The clean-cut anchorman is this summer's Mr Sport

Being Gary Lineker

The clean-cut anchorman is this summer's Mr Sport...
Gallic gourmets are putting French cuisine back on the culinary map

Gallic gourmets put France back on culinary map

Overdone, out of touch and old-fashioned: French cuisine has never been at a lower ebb...
So Moorish: Mark Hix offers his own take on classic Moroccan dishes

So Moorish: Mark Hix's Moroccan dishes

Why not create a north African-inspired feast to share with your friends?
Sin and the single mother: The history of lone parenthood

Sin and the single mother

Maureen Paton explores the history of lone parenthood.
The outsider: Margaret Howell is British fashion's queen of minimalism

The outsider: Margaret Howell

The designer tells Susannah Frankel why she has never felt part of the fashion industry.
The 50 Best luggage

The 50 Best luggage

From chic cases to compact baggage, pack it all in this summer
For men only: A pilgrimage to Mount Athos in Greece

For men only: A pilgrimage to Mount Athos

On a secluded peninsula in north-east Greece lies an enclave that's way off the tourist map, especially for women...
48 Hours In: Faro

48 Hours In: Faro

More than just the gateway to the Algarve, this city has much to tempt you off the beach.
Here, the coast is always clear: Celebrating sixty years of Pembrokeshire's National Park

60 years of Pembrokeshire's National Park

Mick Webb reveals a land of puffins, tanks and Hollywood blockbusters.
Free Range: Meet the designers of tomorrow

Free Range

Meet the artists of the future
Feeding a hungry world – or meddling with laws of nature?

Feeding a hungry world – or meddling with laws of nature?

As scientists at Rothamsted's GM trials plead with activists not to sabotage their work, Michael McCarthy visits the battle field
Monkey meat that could be behind the next HIV

Monkey meat that could be behind the next HIV

Deep in Cameroon's rainforests, poachers are killing primates for food. Evan Williams reports from Yokadouma on a practice that could create a pandemic
Catcalls, whistles, groping: just another day for a young woman

Catcalls, whistles, groping: just another day for a young woman

Government urged to take abuse more seriously as London study shows 41 per cent are harassed
Jailing of Maori separatists stirs colonial-era resentment

Jailing of Maori separatists stirs colonial-era resentment

Militant Tuhoe tribe members defiant amid claims race relations had been set back 100 years