Boxed PC leads digital by 2.3m

Statistics from American sales analyst NPD claims that the boxed PC games market just managed to out-value digital sales in the US in 2009.

It suggests that boxed sales accounted for a total of 23.5m units throughout the year. In comparison, digital sales reached 21.3m units. However, retail sales were down year-on-year.

In the mobile space, use of the iPhone and iPad as a gaming device increased by 30 per cent between Q2 2009 and Q4 2009.

The popularity of social network gaming increased from Q3’09 to Q4’09 as 4.8m more people played games on a social network in the US,” NPD analyst Anita Frazier stated. This demonstrates how consumers can now experience casual types of games through myriad vehicles, broadening the competitive landscape.”

Elsewhere in its report, NPD adds that frontline digital portals such as Steam, Direct2Drive and EA increased their market share at the expense of casual retailers such as BigFish and Pogo.