An international market report has revealed that the world’s three largest game markets‭ – ‬Japan,‭ ‬the US and the UK‭ – ‬have experienced markedly contrasting‭ ‬rates of growth and decline across‭ ‬2008.‭

The conclusion of Top Global Markets‭’‬ monthly report‭ (‬an integrated study that compiles data from The NPD Group,‭ ‬GfK Chart-Track and Enterbrain‭) ‬states that software sales across‭ ‬Japan,‭ ‬the‭ ‬US and the‭ ‬UK saw a collective climb of‭ ‬11‭ ‬percent in‭ ‬2008.‭ ‬Around‭ ‬410‭ ‬million software units were sold across the globe last year,‭ ‬says the report.‭ ‬That figure stretches far past the‭ ‬367.7‭ ‬million units sold across the same‭ ‬markets in‭ ‬2007.

Both the‭ ‬UK and‭ ‬North America are responsible for driving this growth, as the‭ ‬UK saw an annual software sales surge of‭ ‬26‭ ‬percent in‭ ‬2008,‭ ‬while‭ ‬North America experienced a sales climb of‭ ‬15‭ ‬percent. Japan,‭ ‬however,‭ ‬was holding the global growth rates back,‭ ‬as Media Create reported a‭ ‬13‭ ‬percent decline in software sales across‭ ‬2008‭; ‬largely be attributed to a decline in portable software,‭ ‬followed by console software.

Explanations for the perceived decline pointed to the PlayStation‭ ‬2,‭ ‬a console which had shrunk by‭ ‬46‭ ‬percent in‭ ‬2008‭ ‬based on units.‭  ‬Each next-gen system saw gains in‭ ‬Japan.

‭“‬Looking ahead to‭ ‬2009,‭ ‬a string of star titles are lined up to hit the‭ ‬market,‭ ‬including DS's Dragon Quest IX:‭ ‬Hoshizora no Mamoribito,‭” ‬says Ricky K Tanimoto,‭ ‬Global Marketing Analyst for‭ ‬Enterbrain.‭ “‬There are also big console titles scheduled for release in‭ ‬2009,‭ ‬such as Monster Hunter‭ ‬3‭ ‬and Final Fantasy XIII‭ ‬--‭ ‬leading us to anticipate the console software‭ ‬market will fuel sales of this year’s gaming market.‭”

The‭ ‬UK saw console software jump by‭ ‬38‭ ‬percent,‭ ‬while handheld titles saw‭ ‬6‭ ‬percent growth.‭ ‬The same pattern occurred in the‭ ‬US,‭ ‬where handheld software climbed a slight‭ ‬2‭ ‬percent,‭ while console software jumped by‭ ‬22‭ ‬percent.

‭“‬There are some incredible statistics within the Top Global Markets Report that highlight the differences between the three major markets in the world,‭” ‬said Dorian Bloch,‭ ‬Business Group Director for ‬GfK Chart-Track.‭ “‬In fact,‭ ‬UK console videogame software units are more than double what was achieved in‭ ‬2003,‭ ‬which just shows how fast the‭ ‬UK market has been growing.‭ ‬Because of this amazing growth and coupled with the downtown currently being experienced in‭ ‬Japan,‭ ‬the‭ ‬UK market has for the first time overtaken‭ ‬Japan as the No2‭ ‬world market.‭ ‬Although still behind on revenue,‭ ‬the gap has narrowed considerably and it will be interesting to see how things develop during‭ ‬2009.‭”