Verdict Research: video games becoming most popular form of entertainment in UK

Here’s more evidence of the video game industry’s resiliency in the face of a recession: a new report states that video games are becoming the most popular form of entertainment in the UK, and is even set to outstrip sales of music and videos. Yeah, in your face, recession!

Here’s more evidence of the video game industry’s resiliency in the face of a recession: a new report states that video games are becoming the most popular form of entertainment in the UK.

Video game sales are even set to outstrip sales of music and videos. Yeah, in your face, recession!

The report comes from Verdict Research, who predicts that consumer spending on video games will rise by 42% to GBP 4.64 billion (US$ 7.43 billion) in 2008, while the combined sales of video and music will only amount to GBP 4.46 billion (US$ 7.15 billion).

Major titles that have spread the video game love are Grand Theft Auto IV and FIFA 08. I’d say their penchant for Mario games also had something to do with it. Strong sales of the Nintendo Wii are also accounted for the rising popularity of video games.

Some retailers say their report is inaccurate though, since Verdict’s figures included hardware sales. The Entertainment Retailers Association predicts that video games sales will overtake video sales, but not music and video combined. Even if that is true though, it’s still a huge step for video games.

• Grand Theft Auto 4 first day sales breaks sales record in U.K.
• Video game industry growth beats U.S. economy four to one
• Nintendo cuts annual profit forecast, but they still expect to rake it in
• Pachter: recession won’t affect video game industry much

Via BBC