Microsoft’s idea of releasing their Xbox360 a year before their major competitors really boosted their position in the "next-gen" market. To date, Microsoft owns 42% of all current-gen revenues across hardware, games and peripheral sales.
The install base for the Xbox 360 is now at 17.7 million globally, and Microsoft expects it to continue to grow with their recent price cuts in Europe. On top of all this good news, Microsoft is proud to announce that their console has the highest software attach rate of any system, with over seven games sold per console.
VP of Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Europe Chris Lewis told MCV:
"We had to reach and surpass key milestones [before we dropped 360’s UK price]. We had to get to let a level of momentum that we’ve now achieved. We’ve taken 42 per cent revenue share of next gen-games market – including hardware, peripherals and software, as well as the stunning performance of Live. We’re consistently attaching games at high level – we’re now at north of seven games to every console. That’s considerably more than our competitors and something we’re immensely proud of. On top of that, we’ve worked our way to a 17.7 million units worldwide installed base – and Europe is a critical geography within that figure. The ability to continually drive cost through the console is what has allowed us to open up the price of the system now."
Europe is looking more and more like the focused battlefield of the console wars, with Playstation 3 named best selling system during the Christmas season. Let’s see if the Playstaion 3 can become just as successful beyond that season. Good work on what you have done so far Microsoft, hats off to you.
via [MCV]
