Record Growth For Xbox 360 In 2009
If Redmond, Washington has a big goofy grin on its face today, it might be because Microsoft announced today that it has sold 30 million Xbox 360 consoles globally, while Xbox LIVE subscribers number over 20 million.
In fact, 2008 was the Xbox's biggest year in history, and during 2009 the 360 has remained the best-selling console: it's grown 28% over last year. And Microsoft plans to use next week's E3 to spur that growth:
"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."
More numbers worth bragging about: US gamers alone have spent $14.5 billion on the Xbox 360, and the Xbox LIVE Marketplace has seen nearly one billion downloads. The 360 also remains the most lucrative platform for software, having helped third party software publishers earn $5.9 billion on the console. Additionally, the Xbox 360 is now in more homes than any satellite television provider and, by the end of 2009, will be in more homes than the largest cable provider as well.
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 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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.
(1) NPD Group Inc.
(2) Microsoft internal research
tiny dancer
Posted to Miscellany on 28 May 2009
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: micrsoft, xbox 360, xbox live
Skeptical.
"US gamers alone have spent $14.5 billion on the Xbox 360"
Compared to what kind of (ongoing) investment on Microsoft's part? Especially considering their extended warranty policy, which I believe was estimated publicly to cost one billion. If that's the public estimate, imagine the real number.
"Additionally, the Xbox 360 is now in more homes than any satellite television provider"
I assume they're counting dead systems. Whatever they say is out there, just subtract at least a third.
"Year-over-year growth jumps as Xbox 360 console sales hit 30 million globally"
Sales or shipments? Between retail stuffing and dead box replacements, let's just knock that back to 20 million. It's probably less.
"and Xbox LIVE community reaches 20 million users."
In what combination of paying and nonpaying? Active and inactive? By what metric? An active silver account just costs them bandwidth in multigigabyte demo downloads.
This press release is full of marketing language and nonsense about "what consumers want." I want to see some meaningful numbers that can actually be determined, like how much money does Microsoft have in interest-free loans in the form of unused MS Points? What is the actual (state secret) return rate of dead 360s? For that matter, how about living ones? I returned my first one to Target when I found out it had no wireless and a stupid 20 GB hard drive. How ridiculous of me to assume it was a comparable product to the PS3 for basically the same price.
To Andy 8:
Really? Was it necessary for you to attempt to place such a negative spend upon the report. A person that thinks critically knows to take the information with a grain of salt.
As far as you and I know, Microsoft Xbox Division did take into consideration the cost of the warranty and failed system replacement. We, you and I, are not the authors of the report delivered to TeamXbox and other news outlets.
If you want specific numbers contact Microsoft, scour Bloomberg or CNN Money.