Xbox sales triple after UK price cut News
Xbox News by Tom Bramwell
Sales of Microsoft's Xbox console tripled in the UK in the week following its price-cut to £99, according to sources in the UK retail sector - bringing weekly sales of the system up to around the 15,000 mark.
The boost to sales of the console is expected to continue through the coming months, as Microsoft and its publishing partners roll out a strong software line-up for the Xbox - which should find a more receptive audience among consumers thanks to the lower price point.
Microsoft UK today declined to comment on the retail reports of its sales success. No information is yet known about the impact of Sony's similar price cut to the PlayStation 2, which came into effect late last month.
In a related story, Microsoft today announced that Chris Lewis, formerly UK Northern and Eastern Europe director for the Home and Entertainment Division, which includes the Xbox project, has been promoted to regional vice president of the division for the EMEA territories.
Lewis will replace former incumbent Eduardo Rosini, who is to move to Singapore as Microsoft's new regional vice president for the Asia Pacific market. Neil Thompson, who is currently the division's regional director for Central and Southern Europe, will be stepping up to fill Lewis' former role.
"We're very pleased to welcome Chris to his new role within the Xbox and Home and Entertainment Division EMEA team," according to Mitch Koch, coporate vice president of the division. "He has led the success of these businesses in the UK, where Xbox enjoys a market share in 2004 to date of 25 per cent, as well as in Northern Europe, which has a market share in 2004 to date of 50 per cent."
"Since he has been closely involved in the success of Xbox and the Home and Entertainment businesses in Europe we'll benefit from a smooth transition," he continued. "We're also confident Neil, another Xbox veteran with regional management experience, will build on the successful track record of Xbox and the Home and Entertainment Division in the UK and Northern Europe."
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Comments: 1-49 of 49 in total
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I think I read in MCV that the PS2 sales were doubled on the week before. But when you consider that everyone knew the PS2 price was coming down, and no one was going to buy one in the week before it did... surely there can't be that many scrotes out there who want a PS2 but haven't bought one yet?
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Eighthours
08/09/04 @ 10:53
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PES4 on LIVE will no doubt lure a few of the PS2 faithful over. Already some on GR are wavering!
Shame this is all far too late to make an impact this gen, although Microsoft will be hoping that they can carry some form of momentum through to Xbox Next, and burst out of the gates running.... |
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gamingdave
08/09/04 @ 11:08
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burst out of the gates running
/pictures Gates in John Hurts place in Alien |
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ralphwolfenstein
08/09/04 @ 11:15
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PS2 is still outselling Xbox 2:1 and Xbox in turn is out selling GameCube 10:1
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mcmonkeyplc
08/09/04 @ 11:58
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"I think somebody bought one a couple of weeks ago."
I think I might buy one if RE4 is any good :P Blerk: Halo ? It had to be said. |
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Well, I won't be buying one. Not because I can't afford one (I'm sure I could justify the cash), or because nothing on it appeals to me (there are some titles there I'd like a punt at), but I just don't have the TIME. I recently got a Gamecube (because I could afford one, and titles on it appealed to me :) ), and I've got a massive backlog on that. And on my PC too. So I really can't start buying X-Boxes or PS2s right now!
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I wish TimeSplitters 2 would let you have a crosshair on screen at all times. There's really no excuse for them not giving players that option. Especially seen as how the game usually gives you so little feedback on whether your bullets are hitting your enemy.
I know you can get a crosshair to appear by turning on Aim mode, but then (with most weapons) the controls are far too twitchy for anything but standing still and aiming. |
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asphaltcowboy
08/09/04 @ 19:52
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Well, I plan on buying one! After Gamestars Live, I want one just for Outrun 2! :D
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mystic_mick
08/09/04 @ 23:05
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The Xbox is about to take off and rule the planet, just think of the impact the Xbox would have made, if it had been launched at £99. This is great news, I can see Nintendo pulling out of Europe all together now, he, he. The Gaycube is no more, no more kiddie games, just lots and lots of FPS and driving games, oh and of course Fable. I can see the Xbox outselling the PS2 before the launch of the next gen machines, yes a 100 million Xboxes around the world before 2006. Europe won't see the Nintendo DS or the Revolution, Nintendo you have been evicted, you are the weakest link, goodbye.
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mash the x button
09/09/04 @ 10:32
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kevf123 - I'm going out on a limb here: you own an xbox, right?
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 09/09/04 @ 11:32
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mash the x button
09/09/04 @ 11:44
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"I traded in one of my Gamecubes"
So how many Gamecubes do you own? |
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Right, now I'm going to take issue.
My tastes are somewhat 'off the wall', but that doesn't mean I don't like to play some of the games that the rest of you like. I quite regularly play Halo, and it's a very good game - but it's not the sort of thing I generally like to play 'in my own time'. There seems to be this general idea that the Xbox has this 'all-conquering' line-up from now until Christmas that is going to wipe the floor with everything else. Maybe it will? But this 'all-conquering' line-up is full of the types of games that I generally don't like playing, so to me it's nothing special. The Xbox has a great line-up and some wonderful games. But its scope is very, very narrow - there's hardly anything in there that's 'a bit different', and hardly anything that's of Japanese origin. I like that stuff. I have no need for an Xbox. Dizzy made a post right at the top of the page. I answered it. /huff btw, I wasn't talking about lost_soul, Max! |
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mcmonkeyplc
09/09/04 @ 12:01
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"Blerk: Halo ?"
What have I done! My love for halo is unadulterated, not confined to the breezebox but these "people", dear dog forgive me! /points gun to head |
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mash the x button
09/09/04 @ 12:29
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If xbox sales have indeed tripled after the price cut why don't Nintendo follow suit with the Gamecube? Come on Nintendo, with your back catalogue and RE4 coming soon, you know it makes sense!
Even I might buy one... |
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Why I own a cube: NFSUG is better on the cube, Star Wars co-operative, metroid, resident evil, better graphics for games like Spiderman 2 & Everything or Nothing. I paid 50 euro for my cube - resident evil was about 6 euro and I got 2 pads with that.
As for Ps2 - dont know how true this is, but a friend who works at Gamestop told me that ps2 sales had actually decreased since price reduction because package deals weren't perceived as being as good any more. Ps2 Online is fantastic btw - no fees and no pc to set it up either. Just bloody works - the way it should be (also its mostly serious gamers who looked into the whole thing for themselves as there seems to have been very little marketing for Ps2 online). I probably will face the hoarding masses on xbox live one of these days but I resent credit card fees & subscriptions for my gaming... |
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After ditching my chipped 100Gb Xbox in favour of getting my second PS2 I have to say I am well happy now. The Xbox controller is just shit for footy games, and I aint waiting around for months for GTASA to come out either (the xbox GTAVC was a pretty crappy bug ridden conversion)
However the overall Xbox build quality is pretty stunning. My aqua ps2 looks better though, even if it is made of paper thin plastic ;-) |
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mash the x button
09/09/04 @ 13:54
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"Cheap cube = great
Cheaper cube games = better idea!" Even better, a package deal that cannot be refused! |
Comments: 1-49 of 49 in total
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