GamerNode: News - Microsoft 'owning' current-generation sales

Microsoft 'owning' current-generation sales

Category: Xbox 360, Posted: 03/13/2008 at 12:36PM EDT by Demetri Kouvalis, Contributor

360 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]

Posted by YukoAsho on 03/13/2008 at 02:25PM

I doubt Europe's as critical a part of that figure. I think we all understand that the Xbox 360 is very much America's console.

Posted by intooblivion on 03/13/2008 at 02:34PM

Too bad microsoft has to build 4 360's for every one they sell cuz they break so damn much.

Posted by ninjalegend on 03/13/2008 at 06:57PM

^
That statement makes me laugh and cry all at the same time.

Posted by zim on 03/13/2008 at 07:14PM

Unless micosoft pushes reallly hard and releases another half baked shitty system, the market will probably be ps3 dominated in a few years.

Posted by intooblivion on 03/13/2008 at 08:54PM

Who knows, maybe you'll be able to bake a pizza on the next one. I'm getting tired of eggs and pancakes.

Posted by Cobra951 on 03/14/2008 at 12:21AM

That figure is actually 3 consoles they have to build for every 2 that make it. That's still pretty horrible.

Posted by Vinie on 03/14/2008 at 06:27PM

Everyone knows that when they talk about the 360 in Europe they really mean the UK.
SONY dominates every other country. People don't even say "i'm going to buy a console", they say "i'm going to buy a Playstation".

The fact that the hi-def player, wifi and controller batteries are packed in with the console, the online is free and the PS3 menus and some games are localized in pretty much every European language make the console a no-brainer.

Features per euro, Microsoft, that's what people are looking at.