GTA V Boosts UK Games Retail Out of 4-Year Slump

[roseofbattle]

GTA V Boosts UK Games Retail Out of 4-Year Slump

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V took half of boxed sales in September in the UK, bringing sales up since Dec. 2008.

Brick-and-mortar stores have suffered with the spread of online shopping and downloads of games, but Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto V appears to be revitalizing the sale of boxed games. The game retail sector did not record an increase in sales for many years except for a peak in Dec. 2008. Since then, annual sales have steadily declined for an unprecedented 59 months, CVG reports.

GTA V has sold over 2.6 million copies in the UK. The game hit it big within a couple days, selling $1 billion total in three days. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/128014-Grand-Theft-Auto-V-Breaks-1-Billion-In-Three-Days ]

Data from MCV also states 45 percent more games were sold in Sept. 2013 than Sept. 2012. A total of 5.17 million boxed games sold in the UK last month. Thanks to games like GTA V and FIFA 14, UK game stores have generated more revenue from Jan. to Sept. of 2013 than all of 2012, and the holiday season isn't even here yet.

Even though there was a peak in sales last month, retail stores will likely resume declines later with some success late November and December for the holidays, especially with the launch of the PS4 and Xbox One. When PlayStation America CEO Jack Tretton was asked about the state f the US games retail sector last month, he compared the PS3 to the re-runs of a show. "You might say, boy, the re-runs of a show we released seven years ago aren't doing as well as before."

Source: Computer and Video Games [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/uk-games-market-returns-to-growth-in-september/0122060]

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[orangeapples]

This game is just doing everything: breaking records, meeting hype expectations, saving businesses. Next we'll find out GTA V is helping little old ladies cross the street or fighting crime all the while being a great and outstanding parent.

 

[ZZoMBiE13]

When PlayStation America CEO Jack Tretton was asked about the state f the US games retail sector last month, he compared the PS3 to the re-runs of a show. "You might say, boy, the re-runs of a show we released seven years ago aren't doing as well as before."

A-HA! So the head of Sony ADMITS that they've been serving us dated and warmed over crap for 7 years!

All kidding aside (and relax Sony fanboys, it was just a joke), this is some good news. Of course GTA is that special kind of beast isn't it? It'll draw out even lapsed gamers who haven't played in a while. They turn out in droves just to be part of the phenomenon. It's a cultural touchstone for a lot of gamers I think. Something we've seen less of with annualized franchises and remakes.

Like them or hate them, GTA games always make an impact.

GTA V is helping little old ladies cross the street

Well it is GTA. So after it helps her... it'll probably run her down.

 

[CriticalMiss]

Out of curiosity, what was released in December '08 that caused a peak in sales that has since been unmatched?

 

[Diablo1099_v1legacy]

Out of curiosity, what was released in December '08 that caused a peak in sales that has since been unmatched?

Well, according to Wikia, that year GTA IV, Super Smash Bros Brawl, MGS4 and WOW: The Wrath of the Lich King were released, didn't find anything too notable in December, but I think that was just Christmas Shopping.

 

[J Tyran]

Thing is I wonder how much of an impact the next gen will have in the UK, with the cost of living rising day to day people are not going to be able to afford as many games. The average home energy bill for example as gone up by 80-90% since 2000 and is set to double again by 2020, since 2008 fuel prices have gone up by around 20p per litre as another example. Next gen console games will cost £50 and on top of everything else thats going to be hard to justify too often for many families, the price of the consoles are better this time around but how much will that help? The Wii U is cheap but so few people are buying them retailers are beginning to to return/not renew stock, how well will the Xbox: One do when its twice the price of a Wii U?

I think the possibility of the next gen not being a magic bullet for high street retailers is quite real.

 

[Angelous Wang]

I've pretty much stopped using UK street retailers.

I was a little bit dubious of digital downloads to being with, I always wanted to have a physical copy "just in case" kind of thing.

But Steam has made digital so much more reliable and easy for me (not to mention it's cheaper), that It was inevitable.

 

[RicoADF]

I've pretty much stopped using UK street retailers.

I was a little bit dubious of digital downloads to being with, I always wanted to have a physical copy "just in case" kind of thing.

But Steam has made digital so much more reliable and easy for me (not to mention it's cheaper), that It was inevitable.

Same thing happened here in Australia, however retailers here have learn't and priced their games better. Now I can get physical games that are either around the same price or even sometimes cheaper than steam. Not to mention retailers having online stores you can order from and it gets delivered. Ah it's a good time to be buying games

 

[Revolutionary]

Too Little to late for Game (the company).
Also I don't understand why GTAV has done so amazingly spectacularly. It's a great game but it's far from perfect. A PC port on the other hand....
Just kidding Rockstar suck at PC ports.

 

[Delts28]

I stopped buying in store around 2007. Since then Amazon and Play have just been too cheap, especially used. Recently I've moved to PC as well and between Steam Sales and Humble Bundles I've got a huge backlog of games to play.

Went looking at getting a 3DS last year for travelling. No good bundle prices for the console (which used to be a big thing back in the day) and poor accessories (I wanted a battery pack) put me off buying. The stores have poor range and are just pretty crap nowadays. Not a surprise they've been in such a slump.

 

[Britishfan]

Almost certainly going to be a one off that does nothing to prevent the decline of high street retailers. Digital downloads and/or online ordering just offer far more than the highstreet can, it's usually both cheaper and more convenient to buy a game on the Steam Store (which has a bigger range anyway)than go all the way into town and buy it from GAME (which has resorted to selling Steam vouchers).

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Not that surprising. GTA has always had a wider audience than most games, and that audience includes people from outside the enthusiast sphere who don't really know about/use digital distribution methods as much.

Plus there was some stuff about the digital version of the game not running as well as the physical one.

 

[Fenra]

Surely praising this is a bit short sighted, I'm glad for retail growth and glad to see a game doing well but what happens when the world stops buying GTA V? the retail market can't hold onto the hope of a rockstar based savior every 5 to 6 years

Although there are the new consoles out in time for Christmas this year so that will help

 

[Vrach]

I've pretty much stopped using UK street retailers.

I was a little bit dubious of digital downloads to being with, I always wanted to have a physical copy "just in case" kind of thing.

But Steam has made digital so much more reliable and easy for me (not to mention it's cheaper), that It was inevitable.

Odd, Steam always sells new games at full price or at most with a 5-10% discount. UK retailers have always been cheaper from what I was seeing.

OT: Still waiting on that PC release. Got a PS3 but not going to play a shooter on it, I found RDR to be a much less enjoyable and epic experience because of a controller. There's a difference between the "wehey, I shot that eagle while riding at full speed with my masterful aim" and "I shot another bird by clicking two buttons". And that's not even accounting for the fact this is a game with an online component.

 

[wakeup]

Too Little to late for Game (the company).
Also I don't understand why GTAV has done so amazingly spectacularly. It's a great game but it's far from perfect. A PC port on the other hand....
Just kidding Rockstar suck at PC ports.

what do you mean, GAME is still in business. its done so well in the uk because its one of the rare games that are developed in the uk.