GTA: San Andreas notches up a million to become Britain’s fastest-selling video game of all time
One million units sold in the UK in nine days makes video game history for British developer Rockstar North
Wednesday 10 November 2004/... ELSPA has announced today that GTA: San Andreas has become the fastest selling video game of all time, smashing all previous records and selling a staggering one million units in the UK after a mere nine days on sale, according to official ELSPA figures, sourced from Chart-Track.
Roger Bennett, director general of ELPSA, said: "This is a magnificent achievement and equates to a staggering estimated value of more than £35 million. The entire Grand Theft Auto series has been a phenomenal success worldwide, generating sales of more three and half million units in the UK alone. But best of all, this series is home grown, developed right here in UK."
Bennett added: "What has been so satisfying is the exceptionally high level of awareness for both GTA and video games in general, in both media coverage and the public consciousness. Perhaps for the first time, we have seen the kind of buzz which one would normally only associate with the release of a blockbuster movie, endorsing once again the increasing economic, cultural and mass market impact of interactive home entertainment."
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EDITORS NOTES
About ELSPA - http://www.elspa.com
ELSPA (The Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) was founded in 1989 to establish a specific and collective identity for the computer and video games industry. Membership includes almost all companies concerned with the publishing and distribution of interactive leisure software in the UK.
ELSPA's activities include: Official Chart and Industry Reports, Anti-Piracy UK and EU, PR and Communication, Events. More information on all these activities can be found at http://www.elspa.com.
The UK Interactive Leisure Software Industry - Facts & Figures from ELSPA/Screen Digest/Chart-Track:
- The UK is a world centre for games development.
- In 2003, UK sales of video games, other leisure software products and games consoles topped £2 billion, for the second year running.
- Over 20,000 people are employed in the UK leisure software sector.
- The British games industry generated £494m of exports in 2003. 33% of all PS2 games bought in Europe originate in the UK (the same proportion as US originated products and ahead of Japan and any other country).