Game Group said that profits rose by 75 per cent to £119.6 million in 2008 as new products such as the Nintendo Wii Fit hit the market and some of its rivals went bust.

The video game retailer reported a 32 per cent rise in turnover to £1.97 billion in the 53 weeks to January 31.

Customers kept shopping in its Game and Gamestation stores despite the downturn as new products appealing to older generations and women entered the market.

Sales grew by 32.2 per cent and like-for-like sales, which strip out the impact of new stores, were up by 8.8 per cent.

The picture in 2009 was less rosy, with total sales and like-for-like sales for the 11 weeks to 18 April down by 2.4 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively in the UK and Ireland.

Peter Lewis, the chairman of the company, said: “These were exceptional results for the Group…The principal drivers have been third-generation formats with many products now having a wider demographic appeal, the further development of our specialist credentials, successful international expansion and the many benefits arising from our acquisition of Gamestation.”

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