Videogame software enjoyed a striking 21.1 percent rise in annual sales across 2008, according to new data provided by the Entertainment Retailers Association.

The ERA reports that game software generated sales of £2.1 billion at the UK retailers; a figure in line with recent conclusions from GfK Chart-Track, which reported that consumers spent £1.9 billion on videogame software in 2008.

As Chart Track published its report, the firm’s business group director Dorian Bloch told Edge that such high rates of growth wouldn’t be repeated in 2009. Yet speaking to MCV, ERA director general Kim Bayley said that “if we look at the first three months of 2009, the pattern of games sales growing and video remaining static is continuing.”

“One would expect games to grow and video to remain broadly flat – meaning games will overtake or knock at video’s door by the end of 2009,” she added, though not specifying on the rates of growth.

Nintendo’s Wii was the system responsible for the most software sales, taking in £481 million in 2008. Software sales amounting to £433 million were for Xbox 360 titles, with £334 million for PS3 games and £366 for Nintendo DS software.

Along with this, ERA claims that the UK supermarket chains saw its share of the game retail market dedecline; down from 11.2 percent to 9.4 percent.

In‭ ‬2007,‭ ‬supermarkets overtook specialist retailers to become the dominant DVD channel in the‭ ‬UK,‭ ‬boasting a‭ ‬30‭ ‬per cent share of total DVD unit sales according to data from the British Video Association.

Many analysts have long predicted the supermarket would eventually dominate the sector, yet online outlets now claim a 26.4 percent slice of the market.

Source: MCV