UK game sales post new record in 2008

The global economy may be in meltdown, but that didn't stop UK consumers from spending £4.03 billion ($5.97b) on games in 2008. ELSPA's data reveals that software sales were up 23%, while console sales increased by 14% over the prior year, reports GamesIndustry.biz.

Wii accounted for one quarter of the £1.90b ($2.87b) in software sales in 2008. From the report, it appears there was good news for all current systems, as they each seemed to receive software sales increases. ELSPA believes that the introduction of "family-based console titles" has really opened up the market to people who wouldn't normally play video games. Sounds like Microsoft agrees with ELSPA, having recently announced a Hasbro channel for XBLA coming this spring.