Games overtake films in global entertainment market

Statistics from market research company Media Control Gfk International suggest that gaming has overtaken DVD and Blu-ray in terms of worldwide market value,

Edge Online

reports.

The firm claims that games accounted for 53 per cent of 2008’s global packaged media commodities market, which in total valued $61bn. Global video game sales climbed 20 per cent in the time period to reach $32bn.

In contrast, sales of DVD and Blu-ray, which accounted for the remaining 47 per cent, dropped by six per cent to $29.8bn. The overall market grew by six per cent compared to 2007.

Whilst Nintendo’s Wii was credited with the credit-crunch bucking growth seen in gaming, the transition from DVD to Blu-ray was blamed for the drop in film sales.