Microsoft today announced the sale of 30 million Xbox 360s around the world, crowing about "record growth" in 2009. Of those 30 million 360 owners, 20 million of them are part of Xbox Live, which is actually a really good rate.
According to Microsoft, Xbox Live can now be considered "the world's largest global entertainment network." They clearly have not heard of the Internet, but this is Microsoft's special day, so we won't bring it up. Don Mattrick joins the ego-masturbation, stating that the 360 "offers more entertainment value than any other console on the market, and these latest numbers show that consumers agree." Again, if Mattrick is saying that sales figures prove entertainment value, he's clearly not heard of the Wii. Sorry, I said I'd be good to them today.
Microsoft did not comment on whether or not the 30 million sales included people who had to replace their Xbox 360s. I couldn't be good.
Year-over-year growth jumps as Xbox 360 console sales hit 30 million globally and Xbox LIVE community reaches 20 million users.
REDMOND, Wash. — May 28, 2009 — Microsoft Corp. announced today that sales of Xbox 360 consoles have passed the 30 million mark globally, with its Xbox LIVE community swelling to more than 20 million active members. After the biggest year in its history in 2008, Xbox 360 achieved the highest percentage growth in hardware sales of any console so far in 2009, up 28 percent over the previous year.1
The success of the platform can be measured across the business, with Xbox LIVE now considered the world’s largest global entertainment network. Increasing consumer desire to connect with friends, download and enjoy blockbuster movies and TV shows, and extend the life of their favorite games has been the primary driver behind the growth of Xbox LIVE membership and the reason Xbox continues to expand offerings on the platform.
“We’ve always been confident that Xbox 360 offers more entertainment value than any other console on the market, and these latest numbers show that consumers agree,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “We expect our growth to continue to accelerate. Our news at E3 next week will underscore our commitment to bringing blockbuster entertainment experiences to everyone and to growing the Xbox entertainment brand globally.”
Over the course of this console generation, U.S. consumers alone have spent $14.5 billion across all categories on Xbox 360 at retail.1 This number reflects strong interest in a comprehensive entertainment offering that includes the ability to connect with others socially and to digitally download entertainment, be it games, TV shows or movies. To date, consumers have downloaded nearly 1 billion pieces of gaming and entertainment content from Xbox LIVE Marketplace, including a broad array of premium high- and standard-definition movies and TV shows from top studios and networks around the world.2
In addition, Xbox 360 continues to be the platform of choice for the industry’s top games, generating $5.9 billion in sales to date at U.S. retail for third-party publishers, which is more than those of current-generation consoles combined.1 Xbox 360 also leads current-generation consoles in game purchases, with consumers owning an average of 8.3 titles each.1
Activity on Xbox LIVE, the industry-leading online gaming and entertainment service, surged following the launch of the New Xbox Experience in November 2008. Since that time, the community has recorded a 136 percent increase in new members, TV and movie downloads have more than doubled, and purchases of games, Game Add-ons and more on Xbox LIVE Arcade have increased by 70 percent.2 Xbox LIVE reaches 26 countries worldwide and is now in more homes than any satellite television provider.2 Before the end of the year, the number of Xbox LIVE members will surpass the number of subscribers to the largest cable provider.1 Consumers can expect more exciting announcements from Microsoft next week as Xbox 360 kicks off the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the world’s premier trade show for computer and video games and related products, with its press briefing on Monday, June 1, in Los Angeles.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
10:40 AM on 05.28.2009
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That's why Apple-Keynotes are awesome and M$'s aren't.
I mean, 30 million! That number makes it certain it is good and right!
I'm pro-360, but like Jim said. Numbers dont make quality.
I hope they do something about the LIVE prices, because the Home is becoming a force to be reckon with
...
HAHAHAHHAHAHAH!!! Just kidding.
Sorry if I stole your thunder, Sexchocs... Think of it as me saving you from repeating yourself again... ;0)
Pretty impressive figures no matter how cynically/trustfully you see it.
And with a year head start? Not impressed.
Don't forget the welfare parents.
Not really, they killed the warranty on launch 360s, so if your a launch 360 owner like me a 110 dollar bill awaits your future and a 3 month only warranty.
Or you can (like me) gather up the basic 360 components (minus the hardrive)go to game stop and get 80 dollars for trade in value (40 if the notice its broken, but my gamestop enmployees are easy to fool) and get a brand new 360 with new everything and a year long warrenty for 10 bucks more.
So yeah 30 mil is bullshit, I can personally vouch for that, to what extent however I'm not sure.
If you think M$ never boasts or spreads false information, you must be living under a rock. They all do it, and M$ is one of the worst offenders.
LMAO.
I couldn have phased that better. I didn't mean they NEVER did it because all of them BS I'm was just saying I usually hear about it a hell of alot less but I can only go on what I hear about and you'll obviously had quite a diferent experience with the Mircosoft PR
Actually, you only have to be a Silver member to be considered in that number.
Microsoft bases sales on the number of consoles shipped to retailers, so no.
But again, it's Microsoft's moment to shine, so I say congrats to them. It's impressive that they already eclipsed the total sales of the original Xbox about halfway through this console generation.
@ War Zombie: I don't think a 30% failure rate is a shining moment. Windows 98, 2000 and XP was their time to shine.
I think the sales numbers will even out eventually between all 3 in the next 2 years.
Also M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$ M$
GODDAMN I am so witty and awesome, I switched the S for a dollar symbol cause Microsoft, excuse me Micro$haft is only in it for the money, AM I RIGHT OR WHAT GUYS?
Anyway, congrats to Microsoft. They have amazing games so I'm not surprised this happened.
the 360 hasn't been out for 5 years and would require 6 years for both of your 360s to be repaired. math don't work right.
But still, big fucking surprise, the cheap option sells most in a recession! Who would have thunk it! Not to mention the fact that 90% of people who play on the shitbox have had to buy at least two....
"I *ahem* had to go buy my third one yesterday. My other two were also repaired twice apiece and are now both out of warranty. All in all, $700 for three consoles (1 elite and two arcades - I just re-used the same hard drive) over five years isn't going to break the bank." so that makes it more like 10 mil....
Surely you would have preffered to just buy one console for about half of that and have it last the duration?? Not to mention that the exclusives are simply, and proven, BETTER??
i really don't understand M$fanboy logic. it makes no sense.
The only argument I can kind of see is "all my friends have one" - but that's only because they're cheap and were rushed out broken, hence got a good head start. If a rather dishonest one...
"I'm on my 6th console... If failure rates can be extrapolated from that it means the install base is really 5 million."
6? Shit man, they really do fuck you guys over and you all keep going back asshole gaping asking for more. Then fucking congratulate them for it.
i reitterate, I do not understand M$fanboy logic. Guess i'm just not the "say-thanks-for-getting-fucked-up-the-arse" type.
Dang! If they've shifted 30 million units since the start of the recession (we're still in the first year of the recession proper)) then that's got to be some sort of record, eh?
Why stick with the Xbox? Well, it's testament to how fucking good the system actually is, that despite it's teething problems (am I being euphemistic there?), we carried on with it.
PUT SIMPLY: The xbox 360 is awesome, and the best thing/shake-up to happen to console gaming since the release of the PS1.
ALSO: The PS3 is awesome, too.
Quite a few just like their 360s better, be that for Live, Halo, or Gears, etc... There's just some places the PS3 will never be able to touch that the 360 does. Ditto in reverse. But because of the awesomeness of live; that the 360 really and truly has brought the wonders of MP to the masses, the PS3 will always be playing catchup. Like it or not, M$ nailed it, and Sony didn't. Failure rates, the fact that the PS3 exclusives are generally higher rated, and that Sony's got a beautiful looking catalogue of games forming, doesn't and and won't change the fact that Sony dithered and lost the 'wow' factor of Next-gen/Multiplayer excitement. Ie: they weren't the next big thing in this matter, more that they have become the next best thing.
It's nothing about "dithering" it was simply FINISHING their product before releasing it upon the world.
Unlike MS fucked over millions of users, before the threat of legal action made them extend a warrantee! like I've said before, I know 6 people who are on their 3rd / 4th xbox, just because they couldn't afford a PS3. They could have bought 2 PS3's by now with what they've spent on errorboxes.
"Because it's awesome" is just not enough for me, I fail to see why, or how it is awesome? And Live nailed it? and PSN didn't? Short of cross chat it's EXACTLY the same, but free....
The only thing Live has going for it, is Chris Moyles saying he uses it on the bloody radio. i hear people say Live is better than PSN but having never used PSN - it's all you could want from an online gaming service, except the whole cross chat thing.
Why stick with the 360?
1) Because all your friends have one - read cheap, read rushed out broken to beat competition.
2) Because it's not THAT much of a pain to buy another £120 console.
3) Because you've been fooled into thinking a PS3 is more expensive and have eaten up the complete bullshit that PSN isn't as good as Live.
4) You've invested in all those games.
Welfare parents....rah rah rah....failure rate....rah rah rah...sucks balls...rah rah rah....AAA exclusives.....rah rah rah... Halo sucks.
I like you Chaos, I like the cut of your jib. do you have a PS3? Add me...
Foolishbean69
'fraid i don't have a Live account, not the thank-you-for-fucking-me-in-the-arse-and-taking-the-piss-out-of-me-while-you-empty-my-wallet type...
That may be the case, but it didn't work out for them, and now they sit in third place, and will most likely stay there for this generation...
Sorry Chocs, can't afford a PS3 - my JSA cheques won't cover it ;0)