US video game industry sales growth will slow this year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

The industry trade group projected that sales would rise to $17.9 billion in 2008, up 13% from an estimated $15.8 billion in 2007. Sales grew by 22% in 2007 compared with the prior year.

Video game industry hardware sales grew by 50% to $6.6 billion in 2007, but are projected to fall to $6.4 billion in 2008, since many buyers for the latest generation of video game consoles have already purchased one.

On the other hand, video game software sales are expected to rise to $11.5 billion in 2008 as gamers buy software for their new consoles.

"The focus for 2008 will be in the software category, where CEA estimates a 26% increase in sales over 2007," said Jennifer Bemisderfer, spokesperson for the CEA.

The CEA said that global video game industry revenue approached $40 billion in 2007.