UK gaming more popular than ever
But PC numbers going wrong way.
The UK games industry has raked in more money than ever during the first six months of 2008.
Hardware and software combined to reach GBP 1,452 million, an increase of 42 per cent on last year, according to Chart-Track and ELSPA data.
Game sales earned GBP 738 million of that, although PC software contributed just GBP 48 million - a decline of 29 per cent on last year.
Hardware was boosted most by Wii and DS sales, and jumped 27 per cent up to GBP 513 million.
"Games are now one of the most popular pastimes of the British - hence these remarkable figures. Our gamers are more mature than those of most countries - the average age of a player here is now 33 - and as our core gamers have grown up, so too have the revenues they bring in," said ELSPA boss Paul Jackson.
"Britain leads the way across Europe - and one in three games sold across the EU is also developed here.
"The challenge now is to ensure our success is not taken for granted at home or undervalued in any way - and to ensure we have the home-grown talent to ensure we will still be leading the way five years down the road," he added