As with the other magazine sectors, the figures returned for the first half of the year were relatively poor, with most titles registering a decline in sales.
Future Publishing, which dominates the market, saw its title Xbox World 360 record an increase of 25.5% year on year (a growth in real terms of 4,712) following the launch of the Xbox 360 console at the tail end of last year, although its total circulation figure is a modest 23,183.
The biggest selling gaming mag, Official Playstation 2 Magazine, also published by Future, recorded a total circulation figure of 100,117, leaving it some way ahead of the rest of the gaming market. However, it had a poor first half, seeing sales drop by 33,125 year on year in real terms.
The hardest hit of the gaming magazines was Official UK Xbox Magazine which suffered the biggest fall in circulation both in real terms and percentage wise, with its circulation dropping from just over 85,000 to around 40,500, probably due to the launch of the Xbox 360 console and subsequent magazines.
The recently launched 360 Gamer, the only magazine in the sector not published by Future, saw a period on period fall of 9.1%, leaving the Uncooked Media title with a total circulation of 9,133.
| Gaming Magazines: Jan-Jun 2006 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jan-Jun 05 | Jan-Jun 06 | Actual Change | % Ch |
| 360 Gamer | Uncooked Media Ltd | n/a | 9,133 | n/a | n/a |
| Edge | Future Publishing | 31,078 | 33,597 | 2,519 | 8.1 |
| GamesMaster | Future Publishing | 55,388 | 53,360 | -2,028 | -3.7 |
| Official Nintendo Magazine | Future Publishing | n/a | 35,569 | n/a | n/a |
| Official Playstation 2 Magazine | Future Publishing | 133,242 | 100,117 | -33,125 | -24.9 |
| Official UK Xbox Magazine | Future Publishing | 85,072 | 40,497 | -44,575 | -52.4 |
| Official Xbox 360 Magazine | Future Publishing | n/a | 42,680 | n/a | n/a |
| PC Gamer | Future Publishing | 48,326 | 45,295 | -3,031 | -6.3 |
| PC Zone | Future Publishing | 32,632 | 30,022 | -2,610 | -8.0 |
| PSM2 | Future Publishing | 45,276 | 35,993 | -9,283 | -20.5 |
| PSW (Formerly Playstation World) | Future Publishing | 50,618 | 34,479 | -16,139 | -31.9 |
| Xbox World 360 | Future Publishing | 18,471 | 23,183 | 4,712 | 25.5 |
| Computing Magazines: Jan-Jun 2006 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jan-Jun 05 | Jan-Jun 06 | Actual Change | % Ch |
| MacFormat | Future Publishing | 17,067 | 18,722 | 1,655 | 9.7 |
| PC Format | Future Publishing | 41,694 | 30,488 | -11,206 | -26.9 |
The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 17 August 2006. Late submissions and changes may be made after this date, and will thereafter be amended in MediaTel’s Press database.
ABC: 01442 870 800 www.abc.org.uk
