The world’s video game market is increasing, not only in the videogame consoles space, but also in the PC space, as it seems.

According to recent findings from top global markets, an integrated monthly report from leading providers of consumer and retail information in the video games industry, NPD Group, GfK Chart-Trac and Enterbrain, combined video game software unit sales across the world’s three largest games markets experienced growth of 11% in calendar year 2008, totaling 409.9 million units versus the 367.7 million units sold across these markets in 2007.

The increase in growth comes from both United States and UK, with respective increases of 15% and 26%. Japan did not fare as well, experiencing a 13% decline in 2008.

The United Kingdom experienced the largest aggregate growth as well as category growth, with console software experiencing a 38% gain, and portable software increasing 6%. Growth in the United States saw console software growth of 22% and portable software growth of 2%.

“There are some incredible statistics within the top global markets report that highlight the differences between the three major markets in the world. In fact, UK console video game software units are more than double what was achieved in 2003, which just shows how fast the UK market has been growing,” said Dorian Bloch, business group director” ad GfK Chart-Track.

“Continuing the growth of the video game industry over the past few years, 2008 software unit sales in the U.S. also saw an increase of 15% over 2007, selling over 268.4 million units for the year; nearly 36 million more units than last year,” said Anita Frazier, an industry analyst the NPD Group.

The Top Global Markets Report is an integrated monthly report from leading providers of consumer and retail information in the Video Games industry, The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track Limited and Enterbrain. It provides integrated point-of-sale data for video game software sales in the world’s largest games markets.

Video Games Become More Popular Worldwide

The world’s video game market is increasing, not only in the videogame consoles space, but also in the PC space, as it seems.

According to recent findings from top global markets, an integrated monthly report from leading providers of consumer and retail information in the video games industry, NPD Group, GfK Chart-Trac and Enterbrain, combined video game software unit sales across the world’s three largest games markets experienced growth of 11% in calendar year 2008, totaling 409.9 million units versus the 367.7 million units sold across these markets in 2007.

The increase in growth comes from both United States and UK, with respective increases of 15% and 26%. Japan did not fare as well, experiencing a 13% decline in 2008.

The United Kingdom experienced the largest aggregate growth as well as category growth, with console software experiencing a 38% gain, and portable software increasing 6%. Growth in the United States saw console software growth of 22% and portable software growth of 2%.

“There are some incredible statistics within the top global markets report that highlight the differences between the three major markets in the world. In fact, UK console video game software units are more than double what was achieved in 2003, which just shows how fast the UK market has been growing,” said Dorian Bloch, business group director” ad GfK Chart-Track.

“Continuing the growth of the video game industry over the past few years, 2008 software unit sales in the U.S. also saw an increase of 15% over 2007, selling over 268.4 million units for the year; nearly 36 million more units than last year,” said Anita Frazier, an industry analyst the NPD Group.

The Top Global Markets Report is an integrated monthly report from leading providers of consumer and retail information in the Video Games industry, The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track Limited and Enterbrain. It provides integrated point-of-sale data for video game software sales in the world’s largest games markets.

Tags: Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Wii, Playstation, Xbox