IDG Research sales forecast: 2008 & 2009

(First figure, 2008; second figure, 2009)

HARDWARE UNITS

US handheld: 12.5m 10.7m

US console: 20.1m 17.2m

US Total: 32.6m 27.9m

Euro handheld: 14.6 10.7m

Euro console: 14.8m 13.1m

Euro total: 29.4m 23.8m

US and European hardware sales are expected to drop – by over four million units in the US and a whopping six million units in Europe. Both the handheld and home console markets are expcted to suffer.

SOFTWARE UNITS

US Handheld: 80.1m 68.7m

US Console: 174.1m 181.0m

US Total: 254.2m 249.7m

Euro Handheld: 84m 75.5m

Euro Console: 107m 106.9m

Euro total: 191m 182.4m

Total software sales are forecast to suffer an even more marked dip than hardware. Handheld games are set to be the worst hit, according to IDG – dropping by over 11 million units per year in the US and eight million units in Europe.

TOTAL MARKET SALES:

US: 286.8m 277.6m

Europe: 220.4m 206.2m