Game Sector Boosts Worldwide Packaged Media Sales

Market research company Media Control GfK International says that worldwide video game software sales exceeded DVD and Blu-ray sales in 2008 for the first time. Global packaged media sales totaled $61 billion in 2008, with game revenues accounting for 53 percent of that figure, while combined DVD and Blu-ray disc sales constituted only 47 percent. The latter group suffered a 6 percent year-over-year decline in sales, bringing its revenue down from $30.3 billion to $29.8 billion. Video game software, however, rose 20 percent to $32 billion, primarily driven by Nintendo Wii software. The growth fell short of Media Control GfK's expectations, though, which predicted a 22 percent increase in its mid-year forecast, according to a report from home entertainment industry news site Video Business. Total packaged media sales growth also underperformed, increasing by only 6 percent compared to the predicted 12 percent. Media Control GfK's U.S. president Amy Heller attributed the difference to global economic turbulence in the second half of 2008. The firm believes that video game software revenues will make up 57 percent, or $36.5 billion, of total entertainment software sales in 2009. Global packaged media sales are expected to increase 4 percent to $64 billion this year.