A good year for Microsoft’s Xbox 360
Despite the 2008’s turmultous economic landscape, Microsoft’s’s Xbox 360 recorded its biggest year ever, with more consoles, games and online entertainment products sold than any previous year.
It was a year in which unit sales of Xbox 360 systems climbed to 28 million consoles worldwide — putting the product’s lead over Sony PlayStation 3 at more than 8 million units.
The Xbox LIVE community also grew to more than 17 million active members, as online consumer spending increased 84 percent from last year. Since the launch of the Xbox 360 three years ago, more than $1 billion has been spent on Xbox LIVE.
This growth was partly fueled by the launch of the New Xbox Experience; a broad selection of hit games, TV shows, and movies available; and mass-market price points, starting at $199.
Xbox 360 is experiencing record-setting sales around the globe, particularly in Japan and Europe, nearly doubling market share in these key territories. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) specifically, Xbox 360 has now sold more than 8 million units, extending its lead over the PS3 by more than 1 million units.
“For Xbox, 2008 will be remembered around the world as a pivotal growth year at retail and online — even in the face of tough economic conditions,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft.
One of the biggest trends in 2008 was consumers taking advantage of the digital distribution of games and entertainment content.
Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, Xbox LIVE experienced its busiest week ever, with a record of more than 1.5 million concurrent members online.
Loading ...