UK Game Market Drops 24 Percent Week-On-Week

The UK game market fell 24 percent week on week to its lowest point in years, as software units also fell 21 percent to 650,382. That's according to new data from GfK Chart-Track, as reported by UK trade site MCV. The report cites a range of industry-watchers who blame everything from few releases to the General Election's effect on consumer confident for the drop. "Easter was relatively quiet really, and many people will be holding back for the big titles to come," said Chart-Track senior account manager Chris Poole, who said the warm weather may make consumers less motivated to buy games. "We’re also coming down from the big highs of Modern Warfare 2 and the like; it is understandable the market would hit an eventual low," he adds. Other than that, analysts discuss the trend toward online and social games amid a shrinking boxed software market in Europe as a prevailing factor. The UK can look forward to the release of FIFA 10 to boost unit volumes again. The soccer franchise enjoys some of its most spirited fans in the UK.