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Software alone generates £1.719bn for domestic economy

MCV can reveal that the total UK games market was worth a colossal £3.356 billion in 2007.

The exclusive figures, courtesy of ELSPA/ChartTrack, include total games software, console hardware and gaming accessories.

The latest stats crown a record-breaking year for the UK industry, in which the console handheld market – led by a surging demand for DS and its duo of Brain Training titles – saw the biggest growth.

And with three new home consoles on the market prompting some top-selling titles based on new IP, the UK games industry has never been healthier.

Looking ahead into 2008, fresh Screen Digest figures suggest that more releases than ever in the early part of the year will keep the momentum going in 2008.

Compared to Q1 2007, there will be a sharp rise in the number of releases in the early part of the year. By the end of Q1 ‘08 Screen Digest predicts 270 releases for Xbox 360, 290 for Wii and over 150 for PS3.

2007's stats breakdown:

Game console hardware: £1.252 billion
Gaming accesories: £386 million
Software: £1.719 billion

TOTAL: 3.356 billion"

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£3.4B = $6.7B. In 2007 the US game industry was worth $17.9. Pretty impressive that UK with 20% of the population has about 35% of the market value of US.

It's true, UK market is really huge. Average UK citzen spends on gaming about 110 $ yearly, this is more than any other country as far as I know (US citzen spends 60$ if we assume US market is equal to 17.9 bln).

@BKK: Where did you got that US is 17.9 bln? I've read it's 13.7 (however I think that those 13.7 doesn't include PC so that's may be the reason of the difference and thus both numbers may be ok).

NPD: 2007 game earnings nearly $18 billion

THE NPD GROUP's 2007 US GAME INDUSTRY SALES

Category / Total / Change
Video Games: $17.94 billion +43%
Video Games Hardware: $7.04 billion +54%
Console Hardware: $5.12 billion +73%
Portable Game Hardware: $1.92 billion +19%
Video Games Software: $8.64 billion +34%
Console Software: $6.64 billion +39%
Portable Game Software: $2.00 billion +18%
Video Game Accessories: $2.26 billion +52%