UK games market in 2010 raked in £2.8 billion

MCV's reporting that in 2010, the UK games market made £2.875 billion, down from the £3.3 billion of last year.

The figures are from UKIE.

Console software sales hit £1.45 billion, with growth for both 360 and PS3. Sales revenue on PS3 software was smaller then 360, with PS3's £414 million being overshadowed by 360's £538 million, however.

As far as software unit sales went, 360 was the winner with 18.2 million to PS3's 13.8 million.

For hardware, PS3's revenue was £229 million, with 360 taking £232 million. Combined, the two consoles sold 2.3 million units.

Nintendo figures weren't given.

Peripherals were worth £545 million last year, with 25.8 million sold.

A combined 63 million console and PC games were bought in the UK last year.

"Despite 2010 being a tough year for the economy, the video games and interactive entertainment industry continues to perform strongly," said UKIE boss, Mike Rawlinson.

"As the UK’s leading creative industry, these figures demonstrate the increasingly popular position of video games in everyone’s everyday lives, and the strength that the sector has to see it through tough times.

"The UK video games market has something for everyone, with the market expanding into new areas, particularly online, on mobile phones and on other interactive devices. This expansion is coupled with the continued strength of traditional markets, providing consumers with choice and demonstrating the industry’s increasing maturity."

He added: "Thanks to continued innovation from games publishers and developers more and more people are playing games. With one in three people now considering themselves gamers, interactive entertainment is increasingly part of everyone’s everyday lives."