Microsoft crowned best UK publisher by games retail

For the second year running, Xbox has been voted the UK’s best publisher by retailers.

In 2014, the firm was voted for by 26 per cent of stores, but this year this grew to 31 per cent of retailers asked.

Store managers cited the platform holder’s strong first-party line-up, which included titles like Halo 5: Guardians and Rise of the Tomb Raider, as well as third-party games it had marketing tie-ups with, such as Fallout 4.

That title took the game of the year prize, with a 62 per cent share of the vote, and helped publisher Bethesda reach second place in the listings. That firm was put forwad by 26 per cent of stores.

In third place was PlayStation firm Sony, which took a 12 per cent share of the vote. That publisher was particularly popular with indie stores for the firm’s constant support with bundle deals and point-of-sale materials.

This data comes from MCV’s Annual Retail Survey, which can be read online here.