DS and Wii boost sales at GAME

Specialist retailer GAME has reported a sales increase of 20.9 per cent for the six week Christmas period ending January 6.

In the UK and Ireland sales were up by 16.4 per cent, while total sales for continental Europe rose by 35.8 per cent.

The Nintendo DS Lite and Wii were singled out as particularly strong performers during a season where new hardware boosted sales - especially when compared to the previous Christmas.

"Our Christmas sales performance was excellent particularly given the very strong comparatives for the previous year when the Microsoft Xbox 360 launched," said Peter Lewis, Chairman of The GAME Group.

"This year there was strong demand for all formats, in particular for the Nintendo DS Lite and the most recent market entrant, the Nintendo Wii, which launched in Europe on 8 December.

"We have traded well and gained good momentum throughout this year which has reinforced our position as Europe's leading specialist retailer of PC and videogames. We look forward to the much anticipated launch of the Sony Playstation 3 in 2007," he added.

The retailer now expects profits for the year to January 31st 2007 to be higher than previously forecast, standing at between GBP 28m and GBP 30m.