The year and a half head start has a lot to do with it, but this number does not mean that the 360 is a better console, but this is significant for gaming in general. These fuckers are expensive and it means that people are shelling out the dough. It also means that the gaming market has really reached a whole new demographic. Xbox Live has also hit 12 million members. For the complete breakdown, hit the jump.
Here’s the full press release:
Xbox 360 First Gaming System to Reach 10 Million in U.S. Console Sales This Generation
Xbox LIVE tops 12 million members globally as Xbox 360 console sales hit more than 19 million worldwide.
REDMOND, Wash. — May 14, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has sold over 10 million units in the U.S., making it the first current-generation gaming console to break the 10 million mark in the U.S. The U.S. install base contributes to global sales of over 19 million, more than any other current-generation console.
“This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry.”
This announcement comes on the heels of one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, “Grand Theft Auto IV,” on April 29, 2008. Gamers eager to experience “Grand Theft Auto IV” online helped boost Xbox LIVE global membership to over 12 million this month. Fueled by an unparalleled combination of access to friends and family, the best online gaming features, and the best entertainment content, the Xbox LIVE service has doubled in membership in only one year’s time.
“Reaching an installed base of 10 million consoles in the U.S. is a significant achievement and an essential milestone on the road to market leadership,” said Billy Pidgeon, research manager at IDC. “Perhaps more important is the Xbox 360 worldwide online base — 12 million Xbox LIVE gamers is the largest community in the connected console games sector, which represents the greatest growth opportunity in the console market and where Microsoft has been the leader for two generations.”
Xbox 360 leads with the industry’s highest software attach rate, more than any other console this generation, and is home to the best-selling games. With the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV in April, Xbox 360 is now the home to more than 16 platinum titles that have sold through one million units or more including hits like “Halo 3,” “Madden NFL 07” and “Madden NFL 08,” “Gears of War,” “Guitar Hero II” and “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” and “Call of Duty®2, Call of Duty®3 and Call of Duty®4: Modern Warfare™,” giving Xbox 360 two times more platinum-selling titles than the Wii and a 16:2 lead over the PlayStation 3 in game titles topping one million in sales.Games not only sell better on the Xbox 360, they play better, too: Xbox 360 has 91 titles with a Metacritic review score of 80 or higher, compared with just 22 titles for Wii and 50 titles for PlayStation 3.
8 Comments
Write a Comment»I love how they completely don’t count the Wii. Nintendo has already sold more than 10 million Wii’s in the US. I guess they honestly don’t consider it to be “next-gen”
Mr Banks,
I know the Wii may be a fast seller. I own a Wii myself, but it is in no way a next gen gaming system. I play my 360 about 99% of the time. The Xbox 360 is just a better experence in every way. But as long as you like the Wii, I say Cheers to you!. I’m going to play GTA IV now, Later-
Omegan One,
“Next-gen” doesn’t just mean prettier graphics. “Next-gen” is all about the all around experience, and the Wii does offer many things that were not possible in the previous console generation. To be completely honest, “next-gen” just means whatever is coming next. Right now, the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 are all current-gen.
Mr Banks,
Current gen, next gen, however you slice it the 360 is better in most ways to the Wii. I am not saying that the Wii is not fun or that it is not a good system. All I am say is that from a new hardware stand point the 360 is what most people want out of a system these days; bigger, badder, better than what came before. Both PS3 and Wii just don’t provide the overall polish that Xbox360 and XBL provide. Again I am not saying that the Wii or PS3 are bad systems, I simply like what Microsoft provides better. Enjoy your Wii and have a great day
Omegan you don’t seem to understand what he’s saying. He wasn’t accusing you of saying the Wii sucks. Matt is pointing out that the Wii IS a next-gen console, because you said it wasn’t because it lacks the capabilities of the 360.
You say the PS3 doesn’t provide the overall polish that the 360 & XBL provide. I say bullshit. Both consoles are way superior in different areas (DVD vs Blu-ray, is just one of the many different aspect of both consoles). The PS3 imo is shaping up and is going to be a great console soon. Saying the 360 provides an overall polish is blasphemy, don’t forget the RRoD.
Oh I meant current-gen not next-gen in my post.**
you guys have given me so much to spam on that I overloaded
EHT,
Do we really need to cuss to make our point? Kind of 7th grade after school stuff if you ask me. I like the 360, you like the PS3 which is fine. You can call what I said anything you’d like. It does not change the fact that PSN network is no where close to XBL. XBL is the leader and Sony is just muddling thru the online service thing and ‘ape-ing’ XBL at every turn; and doing it badly! It’s a fact, ask any video game magazine and you’ll be told the same. As for graphics both systems are pretty close; maybe PS3 will pull ahead in the comming years but for now it’s pretty much a draw. PS3 wins as a movie machine; but I was speaking about games and online service not movies. Be a hater if you want it doesn’t change a thing in the fore seeable future.
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