UK SALES ON THE RISE
May 2, 2002

The European Leisure Software Publishers Association's predictions of continued strength in the UK video game market are on track following a good first quarter. Sales across all platforms for the quarter totaled £262 (US$383 million), a 20% increase from the same period last year, with a total of 11 million units sold (up 6%).

Xbox had software sales of £9 million during the two weeks between its launch and the end of the quarter, Sony reached game sales of £105 million (a 250% increase over the same period last year), 2.2 million GBA games were sold, and the PC saw a 7% jump to 4.2 million games. Gamecube, which launches tomorrow, is expected to further fuel growth.

Roger Bennett, Director General of ELSPA, commented: "The UK continues to excel in the leisure software industry, demonstrating the innovative nature of the nation's developers and publishers. We are also witnessing a change in consumer perceptions of playing computer games. The age range of gamers continues to stretch - 56% of gamers are in the 25 to 44 year old bracket and there are now increasing numbers of female gamers. One of the main reasons the industry has been able to attract different people to gaming is the wide diversity of leisure software available. From traditional driving and action games to dancing games, quizzes, educational software for young children and hobby software for their parents and even grandparents."