UK physical game sales hit rock bottom
Retail in need of therapy?
The UK games market hit an all time low last week. Retailers took in just £8.4m from software sales.
With the release schedule dryer than a Saharan snakepit, this time of the year is always grim, but with just 394,688 physical copies of games sold through stores last week, the industry suffered its lowest financial performance since records began.
The figures - which come by way of GfK Chart-Track, via MCV - are said to be the result of various detrimental factors. Not only has the country suffered economic woes, reached the end of a console cycle and given more focus to digital content, but it has also been overwhelmed with Jubilee, European football tournaments and more recently Olympic fever.
Perhaps it comes as no surprise then, that Sega's official Olympics game was the best-selling title last week.
Massive dive
These figures don't take into account the takings from from digital sales and online gaming subscriptions.
Still, our thumbs haven't quite stopped tapping current-gen controller pads just yet, and with various triple-A titles scheduled for release in the autumn, the industry remains positive. Game on. ®
COMMENTS
Re: only gonna get worse surely?
"The future is surely tablets, and other devices running Onlive type services."
I bloody well hope not. I haven't bought a physical game in ages, but moving to a subscription and rental service is one step too far for me.
Plus, who the hell has the bandwidth?
Wasted drinking time..
Back by 10 and still up until past 12?
Re: only gonna get worse surely?
Furthermore, I've tried gaming on tablets and phones, but touchscreens just don't cut it.
Re: I blame
Indeed, who needs a shop when you can buy a game at 10pm when you get back from pub and be playing it by midnight... I haven't bought a physical game since romance of the three kingdoms 13
