MS spins third place in October NPD

By Robert Purchese Published 13 November, 2009

As Nintendo looks towards record books.

Following a third-place console finish, Microsoft has chosen to focus on US Xbox 360 third-party software and peripheral sales as well as yearly sales growth.

"Xbox 360 remains the only console showing year-to-date growth," boasted Microsoft, "and consumers spent $289m on Xbox 360 hardware, software and accessories in October - more than any other platform."

The Xbox 360 sold 250,000 units during October in the US. Microsoft said sales for the period from January to October were up 7 per cent from 2008.

Nintendo, on the other hand, buoyed by nearly 1m combined hardware sales of Wii and DS, looked towards the record books. The DS, said the company's statement, is "poised to surpass the all-time single-year US hardware sales record" of 10m units, set by the Wii in 2008.

The statement added that the Wii sales spike was a "remarkable result" considering the five-week month of September.

"We are very appreciative of the continued, strong consumer response to both of our systems as we head into the holidays," said Nintendo of America second-in-command, Cammie Dunaway, "and are excited to bring to them our key games [New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Zelda: Spirit Tracks] this year."

Sony hasn't reacted to October's NPD results.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (30) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • el_pollo_diablo #1 2 years ago

    ...which is nice.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #2 2 years ago

    Really are clutching at straws with saying there up on Year to Date, cos they no fine well by the end of the year they will be down year on year for hardware sales.

  • miiiguel #3 2 years ago

    "will be down year on year for hardware sales. "

    Why you say that? Anyway take note of that, and we'll talk next month. Same place, same time?

  • FooAtari #4 2 years ago

    waits for comments on how the 360 is now heading towards failure and how the PS3 will now dominate. All while conveniently ignoring the fact the Wii is handling them both their asses on a plate.
    Edited by 1 at 13/11/09 @ 10:18

  • Bigglesworth #5 2 years ago

    Why do the platform holders all issue the same pointless, predictable statements following this monthly stat-wankery? Are they contractually obliged or something??

  • woodnotes #6 2 years ago

    Reminds me of the beggining of 2008. Year of PS3, momentum, etc etc.

    Then MS did another price drop.

  • nuanimal #7 2 years ago

    Errr... something that has always bugged me is why video game websites and magazine have sales figures as news articles? I can understand charts, to show how popular a game is and to be a great marketing tool - but I don't get why sales figures are made for mass consumption.

    It seems suitable for gamesindustry.biz or financial websites - that make sense, but I really don't understand? Is it going to make me turn around and think "Holy shit! Sony is sluggish in PS3 sales, I should realy buy two or three to help them out" Or wow I'm so glad Nintendo is doing well! Now back to Uncharted 2".

    It would be news worthy if sluggish sales had almost made a company bankrupt, but seriously, why should I care about sales figures unless I was the company concerned or an investor?

  • b00n #8 2 years ago

    @Bigglesworth, because they have internal and external PR and customer relations managers who have to prove everyday why their job is valid and necessary. So they make press releases! :)

  • FooAtari #9 2 years ago

    @bigglesworth and nuanimal

    Agree with you both. The PR comments are predicable and boring. And the publishing of stats is a little unique. If you read a music or movies site you don't tend to see much about EMI or Universals revenue etc etc etc. As you say seems more appropriate for industry sites. If people want to know them, they can go and look there.

    But the fanboys love this shit don't they. Yet another bullet point to add to the list of arguments and "facts"

  • onyxbox #10 2 years ago

    ... tumbleweed...

  • mcmonkeyplc #11 2 years ago

    I think the Sony PR reps are still pissed from there NPD party last night.

    They'll come along shortly shouting "in your face MS!" etc...

  • skillian #12 2 years ago

    @nuanimal - couldn't agree more, in no other entertainment sector do the sales figures really matter to the customers.

    But FooAtari answered the question - the fanboys love this shit don't they. Simple answer, EG will post what gets read and refreshed.

  • Mono_X #13 2 years ago

    @b00n

    Tsk, tsk tsk.

    So cynical..... but so right! :p

  • BOFH_UK #14 2 years ago

    To be fair there's a halfway-decent reason for posting this information.

    Let's say you're just about to buy a console and you want to know which one. It used to be easy, you bought the one with the games you wanted to play. Nowadays however the 360 and PS3 are VERY close to each other in terms of games with only a very small number of (good) exclusives on each platform. So you need to base your purchase off other factors. Additional functionality is obviously one, cost is another, but the installed user base and trends for each console, as well as the software sales, can have a significant effect on both the number and quality of titles that come out in future. Is it something big enough to base your entire decision on? Probably not. But it can have an influence on that decision.

    Mainly though, yeah, fanboy fodder ;)

  • Collymilad #15 2 years ago

    Is it really surprising they came 3rd?

    Price cut + massive game for Sony. Riddle solved.

  • NotSoSlim #16 2 years ago

    Well MS stated Sony should be back in 3rd place in October

    Problem they have is if you take out the Arcade the consoles are same price in US!!

  • penhalion #17 2 years ago

    "Sony hasn't reacted to October's NPD results."

    Hey it takes time to book a venue, bake a cake and hire the dancing girls!

  • Benyboyuk #18 2 years ago

    I agree with Collymilad, it shouldn't be a suprise that the PS3 is doing well at the minute, what with the price cut, the intorduction of the slim and the release if Uncharted 2.

  • glaeken #19 2 years ago

    I am sure these PR statements really are not being put out for the benefit of fan boys. It's all about share holders and share prices.

  • electrolite #20 2 years ago

    More sales = more games.

    That's why sales figures are important.

    Obviously.

  • skillian #21 2 years ago

    I am sure these PR statements really are not being put out for the benefit of fan boys. It's all about share holders and share prices.

    Indeed. But Eurogamer aren't reporting on them for the shareholders.

  • Les #22 2 years ago

    "I am sure these PR statements really are not being put out for the benefit of fan boys. It's all about share holders and share prices."

    To a certain extent: The MS PR statements have little impact on share price as that's based almost completely on Office and Windows performance. It's more a defensive thing for them: don't give investors ammunition for demanding to shut down the loss leading consumer products like 360 and Zune.

    For Sony and MS, the console business is their biggest business, so there it's all about the share holders and stock prices, true. Fanboys are just an ugly side effect.

  • GamesConnoisseur #23 2 years ago

    Glad all is doing well, MS just get their turn to be in 3rd place instead of Sony who has this for months. MS spins same as any company but the numbers aren't disaster.

    Just fanboys to cry A 'wins' or 'deaths', Wii still dominate and both PS3 and X360 still playing for 2nd or 3rd place...... What new?!
    Edited by 1 at 13/11/09 @ 15:45

  • Bravestinsane #24 2 years ago

    Me thinks there will be another little spike after the million users were band lol.

    People will just rebuy and remod.

    Oh well ive been playing MW2 all week so I don't care lol

  • jonthepymm #25 2 years ago

    I'm with BOFH_UK on this one. Poor sales figures are surely an indicator that the console may be manufactured no more (e.g. Dreamcast) or the sequel made (e.g. X-Box -> 360). In both cases, while Dreamcast and X-Box both had great games, you didn't really want to buy one just before it was discontinued did you?

    Similarly growth trajectories. If Wii sales continued (or returned) to top 360 and PS3 month after month, Wii HD would be less likely in the near future. Despite the great overall sales, if Wii really is on the decline, speculation will continue to mount that Wii HD is coming soon. And you don't really want to buy a Wii this year if you can get a Wii HD next year.

  • Dan234 #26 2 years ago

    I think Sony's response was the best out of the three. If only all console manufacturers would do the same every month.

  • Vin #27 2 years ago

    I think they were just were stunned into silence by those PSP numbers.

  • GreyBeard #28 2 years ago

    Errr hang on, sure the PSP numbers aren't stellar but they are only 75k less than what the 360 sold over the same period! Which considering the retail prices of the two devices (3000=Arcade, Go=Elite) are broadly similar, and are pretty much guaranteed to be sold at a profit... Its not that bad.

  • Wolverfrog #29 2 years ago

    Who gives a damn? Can't they just buckle down and actually focus on making their consoles good, rather than sniping at each other about profit and the like? They're all extremely rich, does it honestly matter just how rich?

  • NorUraeus #30 2 years ago

    "consumers spent $289m on Xbox 360 hardware, software and accessories in October - more than any other platform."

    Or rephrased, "once again we where able to fleece our customers with our proprietary accessories, where our competitor bundle wifi and let you use third party harddrives and headsets we are bleeding our stupid fans dry".