AfterDawn: News

Christmas Xbox sales in Europe are 'best ever'

Microsoft is now boasting that its Xbox 360 gaming console had its "best ever" Christmas sales in Europe, pushing overall sales in the region to just over 8 million consoles.

Unit sales were almost double year-on-year and Microsoft also noted that they are leading the Sony PlayStation 3 by over one million units.



"2008 saw us grow faster than any of our competitors and we over-achieved in sales during the crucial Christmas selling period," added Chris Lewis, regional VP of Microsoft's Xbox business in Europe.

"With eight million consoles sold since we launched, and consistently out-selling PlayStation 3 in EMEA, we're poised to build on this success in 2009.

"This success was only possible through our partnerships with retail and with publishers, with whom we’ve worked closely to build a strong ecosystem in the region and to bring value to our shared customer base."

"As we move into 2009 and an uncertain economic climate, we continue to be committed to offering the right blend of gaming and entertainment experiences at the right price," concluded Lewis.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 5 Jan 2009 13:13

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• 15 comments

• Paladore

  surprise,i know 3 people who got an xbox for christmas and not even 1 who got a ps3. That holiday bundle in us/canada was great and after christmast they reduced it to like $260. its a shame sony still selling theirs for $400. I bought a used ps3 for $300 and think thats a good deal. I really hope sony drops their price by $100 by next year so they can move a few more units.

  5.1.2009 14:34 #1

• Globe08

  This equals great news for MS,meaningless to Nintendo since they are punishing the competition, and bad new for Sony cause they are losing in every territory to someone or another be it MS or Nintendo. Sony has so much else in terms of electronics so they should be able to shake this off though. As does MS money is really not a concern here with them its more of hanging with the big dogs mentality. And Nintendo aboslutely needed the success of the wii cause all they have to my knowledge is gaming for their revenue. I mean they have their characters and show spinoffs but theres not many if any still around(super mario brothers show,movie etc.)
  
  
  BTW Mod or someone how many posts are required to not be a "newbie" i thought it was 100 but ive gotten that already, the whole having to wait 3 minutes to post thing gets me every monce in a while since i posts in spurts???

  5.1.2009 15:22 #2

• suffering

  good promotion, i bought xbox on christmas for my son
  

  
  Nokia freak

  5.1.2009 15:26 #3

• zylene

  yeah the xbox 360 is really the way to go now

  5.1.2009 17:23 #4

• Oner

  Originally posted by Globe08: This equals great news for MS,meaningless to Nintendo since they are punishing the competition, and bad new for Sony cause they are losing in every territory to someone or another be it MS or Nintendo. Sony has so much else in terms of electronics so they should be able to shake this off though.Not quite so.
  
  Quote:As of 1/1/09
  Europe (missing 10 weeks) + Media Create (missing 1 week) + NPD (missing last month):
  
  Wii: 4,754,000 + 2,880,069 + 8,021,000 = 15,655,069
  PS3: 2,196,000 + 987,514 + 2,818,800 = 6,002,314
  360: 1,566,000 + 317,390 + 3,295,400 = 5,178,790Not bad for the console of which is the most expensive (by far) in the market as this shows it to be closer than most think (between the 360 and the PS3). Probably because the PS3 sold well throughout the year whereas the 360 did well after the price drop (obviously). But I am quite positive that the 360 has "outsold" the PS3 for 2008 when the NPD & True Euro #'s come in (as I have said before). It's just not as much of a "killing" as most make it out to be. Especially when you look at the 2 years vs each other for the 360 & PS3
  
  Quote:PS3 2 years sales: 19,265,176
  360 2 years sales: 16,246,727
  
  Live: 14 million users in seven years
  PSN : 16 million users in two yearsBut I would definitely expect a price drop for the PS3 either in Feb inline with Killzone 2 OR sometime in April...but ABSOLUTELY this year as Sony is from my information just about breaking even (if not already) with the PS3 in manufacturing costs. And if I am not mistaken Sony has been profitable for a little while now (PS2, PSN, Games etc. supplement).
  
  Edit: What I find odd though is how MS states
  
  Quote:Eight million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa up to the end of 2008, widening its lead over PlayStation 3 in the region to more than one millionBut how can the Middle East & Africa be included in "Europe"...doesn't make sense? Sounds like "Micronomics" to me lol!
  

  
  
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  5.1.2009 18:00 #5

• ZippyDSM

  And the WII still has the better sales numbers for both hardware and software.... *gode gode prod prod bait bait* :P
  
  
  But anyway has anyone taken apart and fully reviewed the newest revision of the 360? dose it in fact cool better?
  
  
  Its funny tho the 360 has at least 1 RPG I want to play the PS3 has 1 FPS I want to play...uhg they both equally suck.... ><

  5.1.2009 18:06 #6

• Oner

  I haven't heard anything that bad about the newest revision (outside of MAYBE 1 or 2 unconfirmed RROD reports), I would suggest it as being the one to go for if someone was in the market. And it is pretty easy to find out by looking in the right places on the box/console labels (from the outside) ;)
  

  
  
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  5.1.2009 18:11 #7

• Globe08

  Quote:Originally posted by Globe08: This equals great news for MS,meaningless to Nintendo since they are punishing the competition, and bad new for Sony cause they are losing in every territory to someone or another be it MS or Nintendo. Sony has so much else in terms of electronics so they should be able to shake this off though.Not quite so.
  
  Quote:As of 1/1/09
  Europe (missing 10 weeks) + Media Create (missing 1 week) + NPD (missing last month):
  
  Wii: 4,754,000 + 2,880,069 + 8,021,000 = 15,655,069
  PS3: 2,196,000 + 987,514 + 2,818,800 = 6,002,314
  360: 1,566,000 + 317,390 + 3,295,400 = 5,178,790Not bad for the console of which is the most expensive (by far) in the market as this shows it to be closer than most think (between the 360 and the PS3). Probably because the PS3 sold well throughout the year whereas the 360 did well after the price drop (obviously). But I am quite positive that the 360 has "outsold" the PS3 for 2008 when the NPD & True Euro #'s come in (as I have said before). It's just not as much of a "killing" as most make it out to be. Especially when you look at the 2 years vs each other for the 360 & PS3
  
  Quote:PS3 2 years sales: 19,265,176
  360 2 years sales: 16,246,727
  
  Live: 14 million users in seven years
  PSN : 16 million users in two yearsBut I would definitely expect a price drop for the PS3 either in Feb inline with Killzone 2 OR sometime in April...but ABSOLUTELY this year as Sony is from my information just about breaking even (if not already) with the PS3 in manufacturing costs. And if I am not mistaken Sony has been profitable for a little while now (PS2, PSN, Games etc. supplement).
  
  Edit: What I find odd though is how MS states
  
  Quote:Eight million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa up to the end of 2008, widening its lead over PlayStation 3 in the region to more than one millionBut how can the Middle East & Africa be included in "Europe"...doesn't make sense? Sounds like "Micronomics" to me lol!I never said it wasnt close just that its bad news for Sony

  5.1.2009 18:25 #8

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Oner: I haven't heard anything that bad about the newest revision (outside of MAYBE 1 or 2 unconfirmed RROD reports), I would suggest it as being the one to go for if someone was in the market. And it is pretty easy to find out by looking in the right places on the box/console labels (from the outside) ;)I'd rather have a couple tear down reviews before I put ti back on my to get list.
  
  I want to get a PS3 60GB unit and a WII whenever I have 400 to blow on something.
  
  I really need to get my entertainment center up and running again... I have not been playing anything lately but for alil FC2 and alot of FO3 even if I switch from playing to weapon moding...anime and to a lesser extent writing has taken over as my main hobby it seems.
  
  -------
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/zippy-profit-rights/
  I wrote this out after musing on it for a week or 2 just compiling thoguhts...it seems thats the best way for me to write, do metal dumps and rewrite it out untill it looks bearly legable.
  
  General writing to hone what lil skill I have plus and my book project
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/cotlop-zippybook/
  
  Is going along as smoothly as it can be since I work on it whenever the voices are in high gear ><
  
  
  

  Fallout 3 has stole my soul, for about 30 hours till the paint wore off.... even if its a action focused FPS RPG, at least its a FPS RPG not a under deved shooter like Bioshock!

  5.1.2009 18:44 #9

• spamual

  any ETA on the PS3 price drop?
  
  i REALLY want one, and will get one in a week unless there is a huge price drop soonish :)

  6.1.2009 23:17 #10

• johncchc

  i got my console over christmas as well. bought it from dell for only 275 dollars including free shipping.. ps3 sucks.. who the hell would anyone want to buy a system that cant be modded.

  8.1.2009 16:53 #11

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by johncchc: i got my console over christmas as well. bought it from dell for only 275 dollars including free shipping.. ps3 sucks.. who the hell would anyone want to buy a system that cant be modded.And if its a older unit tees probably only worth 200$.... :P

  8.1.2009 16:58 #12

• spamual

  Originally posted by johncchc: i got my console over christmas as well. bought it from dell for only 275 dollars including free shipping.. ps3 sucks.. who the hell would anyone want to buy a system that cant be modded.because we arnt all kids without jobs....

  8.1.2009 17:52 #13

• Oner

  I would have expected more from a "senior member"...
  
  I wonder what would happen if devs (or who ever) didn't get any money from the things they make? OH I know! They would more than likely NOT make anything more...real nice attitude.
  

  
  
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  8.1.2009 19:47 #14

• spamual

  oner, that wasnt to me was it?
  

  
  

  9.1.2009 02:22 #15