Entertainment trade body UKIE to launch a new chart for digitally downloaded games next month.
From next month, UK sales figures for digitally downloaded video games will be available to the general public. The data will be provided by the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE). According to Jo Twist, CEO of UKIE, the new chart will also be used alongside boxed product sales, and can be used by the games industry to "lobby government even more effectively, and allow our members to make informed and fact based commercial decisions.â€
A closed beta has been running for a few months, using data from 25 PC game publishers and developers, including Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios, Sega, Ubisoft and Warner Bros. Representatives from UKIE have noted that while they have many companies on board with the scheme, not all of them will be publishing data at the chart's launch next month, with EA and its download service Origin being the most notable absentee. Speaking to GameSpot, UKIE revealed that digital distribution service Steam will not be releasing data directly, but companies who publish games using the software will still able to provide their own numbers for the chart.
Sales from the cloud gaming service OnLive will also not be included in the chart at its launch next month. UKIE has said that they are working on ways to include OnLive figures. Speaking to GameSpot, UKIE said it does not wish to exclude anyone from the chart and mentioned that OnLive is more complex to take into account as they offer bundles which allow access to games for only a limited time.
For now, only the number of units sold are being measured. This may expand to demographics such as age or location at a later date. UKIE also expressed the wish to expand the chart in the near future to include Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network sales, but no date has been given yet.
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