While the media and politicians focused on Mature-rated video games in 2003, new data reveals that the percentage of M-rated games sold last year actually declined while the number of Teen-rated games sold rose, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the U.S. association representing computer and video game software publishers. The data shows that combined sales for computer and video games exceeded $7 billion for the first time ever, and that a record number of console video games sold more than 500,000 and one million units.

Lowenstein speculated that the decline in sales of Mature-rated games likely reflects the absence of many major blockbuster titles in the genre in 2003, a fact that could change in 2004 depending on upcoming product releases.