Xbox 360 sales hit 19 million worldwide

By Tom Bramwell Published 15 May, 2008

But Microsoft has to admit Wii is winning.

Microsoft has sold 10 million Xbox 360 consoles in the US and reached 19 million sales worldwide, the platform holder announced yesterday evening. Xbox Live now has a membership of over 12 million.

Don Mattrick, senior vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business and Devices Division, said the console was "leading the charge in the US and abroad".

He also implied that Xbox 360 would win the console war with Sony overall, adding that, "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle."

However, Microsoft representatives were forced to issue an embarrassing clarification after Kotaku questioned a claim in the first line of the company's press release that it was "the first current-generation gaming console to break the 10 million mark in the US".

It turns out that the company meant to say "current gen high definition console", rather than current generation console, because, as anyone who read Nintendo's financials knows, the Wii has already hit 10.6 million units in the US as part of a worldwide installed base of 24.45 million.

(Update, 16th May 7.54am: Nintendo subsequently issued a release on Thursday claiming it had reached 9.5 million US sales according to NPD data, suggesting we've made an error! Checking Nintendo's consolidated financials, under "Sales Units in Ten Thousands" in the "Life-to-Date Mar. 08" column it claims "1,061" for "The Americas" - and "The Americas" rather than "US" is probably key to our mistake. Basically, we reckon it's Canada's fault. Apologies. Microsoft does indeed win.)

The announcement also comes just a week after Sony claimed PS3 was outselling 360 in Europe, and a day after Microsoft's great rival said it had reached 12.81 million units sold since its November 2006 launch.

Xbox 360 launched around the world in November 2005, and had sold 11 million by April 2007, before hitting 17.7 million by January 2008.

Yesterday Microsoft also reiterated its claim to one of the highest software attach-rates (the amount of software sold per console owner) in the industry - Don Mattrick's colleague John Schappert having told us at the Game Developers Conference that it stood at "7 games purchased per console".

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 4 years ago

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  • Darren #1 4 years ago

    So the Xbox 360 has only sold 1.3 million units in four months...? :o

  • Xerx3s #2 4 years ago

    That's quite a low figure.

  • Widge #3 4 years ago

    I'm curious as to what part of these sales are "upgrades" so to speak. From a PS3 forum, I know several people mentioned last year that they were considering moving from 60GB PS3s to 40GB PS3s with the aim of quieter fans (of all things), so I wonder if the same applies to the 360, with people upgrading from old systems to newer hardware configurations?

    Oh and as a disclaimer, this isn't a slight against any user base, system or anything in any shape or form. Its a curiousity, as I said there are PS3 users who it seems have gone for a newer system for whatever reason... have any 360 owners here done the same thing?

  • alimokrane #4 4 years ago

    19 million in 2 years and half isnt half bad considering the original xbox sold 24 million in 4 years! I am sure the 360 will hit 25 million come this end of the year. At least they are communicating Sold to consumer figures not shipped like Sony. I wonder how many PS3 were really sold!
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/08 @ 08:58

  • Spiral #5 4 years ago

    Wouldn't really matter would it? If someone buys an upgrade then the older one is probably going to get passed on somehow, either as a second hand sale or a present, so it doesn't really affect the size of the install base. The biggest thing that will fudge MS figures are the RROD cases before the warranty was increased where people just tossed the broken ones.

  • TONYgr #6 4 years ago

    easily the 360 is the best console software wise right now.but the playstation brand is very powerfull.dont forget that a lot of people havent moved to this generation yet.there are over 100 millions ps-2 users in the world.i am curius what their next console will be.

  • JonFE #7 4 years ago

    The fierce race for second place continues...

  • Xerx3s #8 4 years ago

    The only race that continues is in the heads of fanboys. The only thing that a company cares about is getting returns on investments. Preferable by being market leader.

  • Widge #9 4 years ago

    Spiral, I see what you mean actually, forgot about the entire 2nd hand market while pondering this in the past. Say if a silent running console came out, I'd probably be listing on ebay to recoup some costs!

  • JonFE #10 4 years ago

    Xerx3s, I was being sarcastic you know...

    The Wii has been an commercial success beyond anyone's imagination, leaving Microsoft and Sony behind sweating, trying to catch-up and fighting over the crumbs left on the table. Both of them try to spin their numbers, but they cannot shake our feeling that they have somehow failed where Nintendo succeeded.

    BTW, if I'm a fanboy of anything that would have to be good games. So far the x360 has provided me some excellent choices, the Wii likewise and the PS3 probably will do just as well, if more of its exclusives appeal to me...

  • Apostle #11 4 years ago

    Interesting that the big bosses are now talking about "winning" the console "war" hehe. I think they've been reading the interwebs themselves a little too much, don't make it personal guys.

    I would also like to know how do we know when the war is won, anyway?

  • Spiral #12 4 years ago

    Widge, I'd be more inclined to pass it on myself. Money I can always earn more of, but there's nothing quite as much fun as buying peoples affection with things you don't want any more. :)

  • byron_hinson #13 4 years ago

    most people who upgraded ps3's just upgrade the hard drive as the rest doesn't change as much as with the 360. I know far more people who bought an elite 360 upgrade than anything else just in the hope it stopped so many red rings

  • penguin_overlord #14 4 years ago

    Let's be honest, the PS3 will definitely outsell the 360 eventually. Monthly sales in all three regions are already higher and that's before the big exclusive games arrive.

  • penhalion #15 4 years ago

    @byron_hinson

    "most people who upgraded ps3's just upgrade the hard drive as the rest doesn't change as much as with the 360."

    Er that's not true at all. My 60gb PS3 plays PS2 games, takes my camera memory sticks and is wisper quiet, where as the 40gb PS3 has less USB ports, no memory card slots and can't play ps2 games.It also has 20gb less storage space. My friends who want PS3 keep asking me if the 80gb full featured back compat model is ever coming over here.

    The 360 is the machine that hasn't really changed much. Aside from internal motherboard fixes, every 360 plays every 360 game and has the same (all be it pitiful) backwards compatibility, usb ports etc. etc. available.

    I thought we were past the fanboy mis-information days.......

  • Darren #16 4 years ago

    @Arbiter - I think the PS3 is doing well considering it's the most expensive console of the three current ones. Despite the price cut, Xbox 360 sales haven't really increased if the Microsoft figures are to be believed and Edge claimed that sales of the 360 in 2007 were worst than those of 2006 despite the release of Halo 3. 2008 doesn't seem too great so far either... just 1.3 million units sold worldwide in four months.... hmmmmm... :?

    I think the PS3 could still really take off once it hits a sub-£200 price point and become as big as the PS2 was. With a ten year lifespan projected for it I think it'll exceed the 24 million units the GameCube sold easily. Also the PS3 has the advantage of selling reasonably well in all three major territories something the 360 doesn't as Japan just don't want to know. All the PS3 needs is more must-have games and a cheaper price point and I believe it'll push the Xbox 360 into third place within the next few years. The ultimate winner will be the system with the longest retail lifespan as than means more units sold. Will Nintendo sell the Wii for another eight years for example? Will Microsoft still continue selling the Xbox 360 alongside its successor in four years time or discontinue it like they did the Xbox?

  • penguin_overlord #17 4 years ago

    Darren, of course the PS3 will outsell the 24 million of the Gamecube. It's already about half-way there and will do the rest in the next 12 months, especially as the 40GB model is likely to be sub £250 by Christmas.

  • Darren #18 4 years ago

    I was referring to the fact that Arbiter said Sony's PS3 is performing like Nintendo last generation when the truth is both Microsoft and Nintendo sold approximately the same number of consoles last generation, around 22-25 million, and it looks like all three will easily surpass that this generation seeing as Microsoft are saying the Xbox 360 will be around for at least another four years (Xbox 360 successor for 2012 then?) and Sony are saying the PS3 will be around until 2016 (although I'm sure the PS4 will appear well before then).

  • muscleblade #19 4 years ago

    I think the PS3 sales are fantastic considering the lackluster games and superior 360 at a lower pricepoint. The same goes for the low 360 sales. Its clear that many consumers still believe in Sony and their false marketing. As a gaming console its very clear that the 360 has the edge. Wii is selling to a broader audience than PS3 and 360 so its a different issue. Only people that havent got both consoles say the PS3 is a better console. Its just not the case - and will probably never be. It might outsell the 360 but not because its a better choice.

  • zedzee #20 4 years ago

    "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle."

    Err, so Nintendo is the winner then!

  • miiiguel #21 4 years ago

    Arbiter is right, Live is the deal. I bet if MS was allowed to do so, would offer the console. Live is where the money is, now and in the long run.

    Sony will, eventually realise that too. Boxes come and go, the communities that services like Live (or to some extent, iTunes) are building stay.
    Edited by 2 at 15/05/08 @ 11:21

  • drumbaby #22 4 years ago

    Hasn't exactly doubled PS3 sales now, has it?

    Now -- watch that lead rapidly erode, folkies. :)

  • miiiguel #23 4 years ago

    If that thought makes you happy, I support you: "PS3 rulez, and shit...!"

  • zedzee #24 4 years ago

    "easily the 360 is the best console software wise right now"

    You are really opening a can of worms there as I'm sure there are millions of PS3 owners who would beg to differ.

    "there are over 100 millions ps-2 users in the world.i am curius what their next console will be"

    Well, I'm one of those (I own a PSP as well and have been PlayStation 'loyal' since PS1) but I have a few criteria that I want Sony to fulfil first, before I make the jump:

    1. Cheaper console price.
    2. Backwards compatibility re-instated.
    3. DualShock3 bundled as standard.

    If they meet these then I will consider buying one, but if they don't, I think my PS2 and PSP have plenty of games to keep me happy for a long time to come.

    If I get real tempted, then I might pick up a second hand X360 and some second-hand games.

  • miiiguel #25 4 years ago

    "there are over 100 millions ps-2 users"
    I doubt that, I alone have (had) four PS2s.
    Err..., and I have 3 360's now, guess what it doesn't hurt..., go figure...
    Edited by 2 at 15/05/08 @ 11:36

  • Melan #26 4 years ago

    zedsee wrote:
    "
    but I have a few criteria that I want Sony to fulfil first, before I make the jump:

    1. Cheaper console price.
    2. Backwards compatibility re-instated.
    3. DualShock3 bundled as standard. "

    Heard. Well the Dualshock is a absolutely must. Backwards comp. will problely never happend.. dam you sony.
    ill probaly buy a ps3, for the sole reason it is quiet, and have a few exclusives worth getting.
    Ill play the xbox exclusives when i get a stronger pc. ;) .

  • Xerx3s #27 4 years ago

    "Xerx3s, I was being sarcastic you know... "

    I wasn't, unfortunately. :/

    "BTW, if I'm a fanboy of anything that would have to be good games. So far the x360 has provided me some excellent choices, the Wii likewise and the PS3 probably will do just as well, if more of its exclusives appeal to me..."

    I never implied that you where a fanboy.

  • Cloudane #28 4 years ago

    I reckon the PS3 will be hitting the 20 million mark by the end of the year and with the Xbox 360 sales slowing down - compared to sale figures in 2006 and 2007 - it won't be too long before both consoles become neck-in-neck in terms of sales.

    An interesting 'battle' indeed.

  • #29 4 years ago

    Impressive sales.

    Btw hows the ELite and the RROD thing, did that ever fix it? Would like to get an elite tbh.

  • kestral #30 4 years ago

    If you're thinking of buyiing a console, don't base your decision on these marketing bozos. They're trying to sway you in a direction based on prognoses which change over time.
    Instead, look in the gameshops how much shelve space is devoted to the consoles that you are looking for, and the type of games that are shown. This will tell you the retail support, which is important and I should have known when I bought a gamecube. Then look at the upcoming announced games.This will tell you if your system will be gathering dust in the near future. I knew that when I ditched the gamecube.

    That's about it. Don't buy a system based on hardware features or the race for leader (best supported system) is still ongoing. Then see which system fits in your budget (don't forget periphicals if you want them, such as controllers - wifi adapters etc).

    Its about the games and the amount of money you're spending in my book. whether it can ten-eighty ai, pee or wee is secondary.
    Edited by 2 at 15/05/08 @ 12:27

  • Darren #31 4 years ago

    zedzee - I honestly don't see how anyone can dispute the fact that the Xbox 360 has the best games catalogue right now. It's had a year head start so there's more choice and being the lead format for so long means that invariably multiformat titles tend to be better on it too. That just leaves the exclusives of which the Xbox 360 arguably has more. No, the PS3 is a fine games console but IMO it's playing catchup to the 360 on the games front and is still lacking in exclusive killer apps like Gears of War or Halo 3. Still Metal Gear Solid 4 is out next month so that could prove to be a turning point for the machine...

  • dsmx #32 4 years ago

    Why do people keep saying the ps3 had a sluggish start? It sold more consoles in the first year than the ps2 did.

  • JonFE #33 4 years ago

    Glad we cleared that up, then :)

  • Kropotkin #34 4 years ago

    @ DaemonB:

    Btw hows the ELite and the RROD thing, did that ever fix it? Would like to get an elite tbh.

    My launch Elite (which I bought last August) RROD 3 days before GTA4 came out. I managed to get it swapped over at the GAME store I bought it from as it was within warranty so no major grief. As far as I'm aware Elites built after December of last year have a better cooling system and chipset so you should be a little safer now but RROD is still very much a problem you have to face when you own a '360.

    In other words if you own and XBox 360 expect it to die. It happens and there is nothing you can do about it apart from curse the name of Microsoft until your throat hurts.

  • secombe #35 4 years ago

    So MS has had to clarify it's statement, now changing it to it being the highest selling console that outputs a specific type of image. Genius.

    I love the 'ignore the Wii' mantra. It was firmly in the 3 way battle before it came out (and even for the first Christmas) but now has been excluded by everyone on spurious technicalities :)

    In other news Nintendo claims it has sold more Pink Hardware than any other manufacturer, but Sony hits back with "highest selling 1.765:1 aspect ratio portable gaming device".
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/08 @ 13:11

  • Widge #36 4 years ago

    The Wii was included in the console battle before it commenced because it was assumed it would lose thanks to hardware inferiority ;)

  • juuken #37 4 years ago

    This is impressive on MS's part, however I doubt their sales will go any further. Metal Gear Solid 4 for the PS3 is coming out next month and that's going to move several people, especially people who never played the series before.

    This console war is getting very hot.

  • rhinoxious #38 4 years ago

    It doesn't seem then that either company has made any significant generation-on-generation raise on their sales. Has the console maket reached full maturity now? Meaning that newer generations are unlikely to out-do previous ones in sales.

    If so why?

    For starters I think that the hardware is getting too big and too noisy, and I can't ever see a PS3 or 360 slimmed down to PStwo sizes.

    Also I guess that gamers now occupy all of the age ranges they ever will, or at least very old gamers don't spend enough on games to make a big difference to sales figures.

  • rhinoxious #39 4 years ago

    Swam -

    None of the games you mention are guaranteed big hitters when it comes to selling consoles (like GTA IV and Halo 3 were). MGS4 is probably the most likely of those to sell PS3's, but given the performance of MGS3 I think the series is becoming an increasingly niche interest, it's just too japanese and too injoke/cutscene/plot driven for many gamers to get excited about.

    If you still think that big jap games like Final fantasy and MGS (both of which I love and can't wait for btw) are worldwide console sellers then you're sadly mistaken. Even the mighty RE4 couldn't save the gamecube - and it's one of the best games of all time and a simple action based shooter that western audiences could relate to.

  • stoopidgreg #40 4 years ago

    numbers shmumbers

  • Les #41 4 years ago

    "Even the mighty RE4 couldn't save the gamecube - and it's one of the best games of all time and a simple action based shooter that western audiences could relate to."

    But the game was released when the cube was already dead. The PS3 is really only just beginning (though might be dead (or victorious) by the time FF XIII is finally released... ;) ) and is better positioned to benefit from such a title... But it's clear it will never come close to the Wii. Might very well surpass the 360 though, as it's main market (the US with over 50% of sales) becomes saturated and gamers looking for a new toy start looking at PS3 as well (I wouldn't be surprised if the May US tax break gives PS3 sales a little boost).

  • espibara #42 4 years ago

    7 games purchased per 360 console not bad.

    For PS3 I have 4 games

    and for the 360 I have 24, nuff said.

  • espibara #43 4 years ago

    @ SWAM

    you talk bollocks I own both consoles. But the slow start to the 360 was becuase everyone was holding out for the super doooper monolith called the PS3 which would crush all in its path.

    Instead when the PS3 arrived they realised it was underpowered graphically to the 360, can barely output 720p and has completely naff online setup although it is free, AA has to be turned off and framerates are hit or miss. With most cross platform games being better for the 360 and the greater live implementation its no wonder the PS3 is lagging.

    The only serious negative at the 360to be 100% honest is its reliability.

    Killzone 2 and Haze look to be all hype and photoshopped screen shots. Even the final motorstorm build was way off its initial jaw dropping video.

    With the xbox 360 still selling well even now and Gears 2 on the way and , devil may cry, ace combat, GTAIV now cross platform the PS3 will probably take a very long time to catch the 360 up.
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/08 @ 15:32

  • Lamb #44 4 years ago

    Quieter fans on PS3 gimme a break we all know the cheap disc drives of the 360 along with its fans cause the most noise.

    And the 60GB PS3 US seems the best model because of its backward compatability.

    Developers make some good games and stop slagging the systems this is starting to sound like an O.P.E.C. meeting.

  • Madlax #45 4 years ago

    Microsoft is destined to be 3rd, but they know it, so its not something surprising for them, if anything they are probably happy with their current position.

    I know one thing though.


    Sony will release its PS3 successor at-least 3 years after the 360 successor and the Woo, i.e microsoft will pull the plug much earlier, and sony will wait and focus on building a robust network service. the PS4 will not directly compete against the xbox720.

    Its clear that sony's current main focus is building a robust online network, they realize the amount of opportunities there, i hate quoting miiiguel but it is true, boxes come and go, the online infrastructure is always there for the company.

    The way i see these numbers, it tells me that by the end of 2009 PS3 world-wide install base will be on par with the 360 install base, and we will start to hear more about the the 360 successor.



  • ronuds #46 4 years ago

    @ Swam

    You paint a (gasp, surprise) rosy picture for the PS3's sales, but you're a bit off in saying they've cut the lead by over a million this year alone.

    Let's assume those 12.8m and 19m are actually sold and not shipped, as highly unlikely as that is.

    Here's what we "know" as near fact...

    US:
    360 - 10m
    PS3 - 4.5
    360 = +5.5m

    Japan:
    360 - .5m
    PS3 - 2m
    PS3 = +1.5

    UK (approx.)
    360 - 2m
    PS3 - 1m
    360 = +1m

    That leaves...
    360 - 6.5m
    PS3 - 5.3m
    360 = +1.2 (other)

    The PS3 for this quarter has gained 60k TOTAL on the 360 in the US and, as of recent reports from Chart-Track, the 360 and PS3 have been relatively close in the UK. The PS3 has been averaging 50-60k per month in Japan, which would equal approx. 240k this year. Where is the remainder of that 1m coming from? You want me to believe that the rest of Europe has sold 1m more PS3's than 360's in 4 months?

    I also like your assumption that the PS3 has sold more consoles due to GTA IV, but we've yet to see any evidence of that. I'm not saying it won't happen, but we've yet to see any results.

    BTW, NPD #'s have been released and the 360 sold more than the PS3. So much for GTA pushing more PS3's than 360's, aye?

  • espibara #47 4 years ago

    @ SWAM ok the pros and cons of both consoles just for you.

    PS3

    Pros.
    Bluray player
    Superior build quality
    Good reliability
    Runs cool and quiet
    Can adjust HD yourself rather than get ripped off my microsoft.

    Cons
    Slow Blu Ray read speed so mandatory installs on the HD on some games to speed up loading. But will soon use up the HD.
    Multiformat games are woeful compared to the 360 (except burnout, GTAIV, COD4).
    Lack of AA in games.
    To compensate for the lack off AA and framerate some developers use the PS3 vaseline effect which makes the game look soft and blurry but gives them a better frame rate eg Half Life 2, Viking and the Haze demo.
    PSnetwork isnt a patch on xbox live.
    Sixaxis controls were a gimmick to appease the loss of dual shock
    Some exclusive games to PS3 have now gone multiformat eg devil may cry, ace combat, GTAIV and sold better on the 360.
    Sony bullshit/ previews of games never seem to look anything like the final build quality.


    Xbox 360

    Pros
    Fantastic xbox live service
    Multiformat games are superior (Sharper, smoother, better framerates)
    Currently more killer app games in release
    Games are slightly cheaper/more budget titles available
    More games available
    Most developers use the 360 as its lead development format ensuring games are optimised for the 360.
    Can also use VGA output the PS3 cant.

    CONS
    Poor build quality/Very Loud (newer models are quieter tho)
    Unreliable (although that seems to be improving with newer Falcon and Jasper models)
    No Blu ray
    You have to pay for xbox live

    Feel free to add your own but none of the pros for the PS3 has much to do with games, says it all really.

    Edited by 6 at 16/05/08 @ 15:00

  • Calgon #48 4 years ago

    I think people are forgetting the differences between PS3's start and 360's start...

    360:

    *Was hurried to be ready in time for christmas/the holiday(we know they'd have been better off delaying the launch a few months for testing... it just did themselves and the consumers far more harm than good).

    * Was the first simultanious worldwide(near enough) console release.

    * STRUGGLED TO MEET DEMAND... unlike the PS3 that has never seen stock shortages.

    * Suffered from reliability issues which reached mass market and impacted sales too, I think slowly but surely the trust in the reliability is coming back, Falcon seems to have been a great improvement and Jasper will hopefully be the final nail in the coffin for RROD(Im hoping for quieter 360s with its release... but that would mean new DVD drives and perhaps other measures).

    MS are in a better position now than they were 12 months ago and 360 looks more appealing than ever(the price is better, theres plenty of good games with much more to come, the Live community and its services are bigger and better than ever and the RROD shouldnt be a problem for new buyers anymore), so I wouldnt be suprised if they have a much better year this year at all.

  • Sevens #49 4 years ago

    'Don Mattrick, senior vice president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business and Devices Division, said the console was "leading the charge in the US and abroad".'

    Especially in Japan and Europe.

    'He also implied that Xbox 360 would win the console war with Sony overall, adding that, "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle."'

    Naturally. Even though the 360 (only) sells 20% faster than its predecessor.

  • Les #50 4 years ago

    I think rarely there's been hotter debates about who would finish in (distant) second place... It's beginning to get rather sad actually. Wii has won, 360 and PS3 disappoint. Get over it.