Console software unit sales and revenues rose dramatically across Europe during the first half of the year, according to data released by Media Control GfK.

A recent study conducted by the market research firm found that software sales in Northern Europe during the first six months of 2008 were up 25.6 percent compared to the first half of 2007.

Sweden witnessed a 57.5 percent rise in console software sales during the first half of 2008, the largest recorded increase across the region, while software sales also made significant gains in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Sales revenues in the Netherlands rose by 46 percent, while the quantity of software sold jumped by 28 percent compared to 2007.

Software sales in both Germany and Italy grew by 39 percent compared to the first six months of 2007, while the quantity of sales grew by 30.5 percent and 26 percent respectively.

Spanish software turnover leapt 25 percent, with the quantity of games sold rising by 11 percent, while Portuguese software revenues rose by 19.8 percent, with the quantity sold up by 3.8 percent.

Media Control GfK attributed the rising software sales and revenues to the growing range of attractive games for the most recent generation of home consoles, which have now heavily penetrated the European marketplace, and the Europe-wide success of Nintendo’s DS handheld.

Last week the company revealed that brain training games, and notably Nintendo’s Brain Training series, dominated the European software charts during the first six months of the year.

“The game console has left the children’s room and made its way in the living-room,” said Ulrike Altig, Media Control GfK’s managing director.

In July sales monitor Chart-Track said that the UK had seen unprecedented software revenue growth during the first half of 2008. Software sales for the first six months of the year were up across almost all games formats to £738 million, generated by sales of 31.3 million units, representing an increase of over 42 percent on 2007’s half-year figures.