Microsoft with the Xbox 360 - Games Business Technology

Microsoft Corporation announced that its next-generation game console Xbox 360 for the first time among the competitors in the market reached U.S. sales mark in 10 million copies. Meanwhile, according to global statistics, Xbox 360 heavily concedes Nintendo Wii, which appeared in sales a year later.

According to official figures released by Microsoft on May 14, selling gaming console Xbox 360 in the world exceeded 19 million mark copies, of which 10 million units were sold in the United States. Thus, Xbox 360 became the first among the competitors who have reached such a high figure on the American market. Moreover, after the release of Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox Live base exceeded 12 million subscribers, making this the largest gaming service among analogues. Analyst from IDC Pidzheon Billy (Billy Pidgeon) believes in achieving the 10 million mark consoles sold by Microsoft a significant step toward leadership.

According to observers, Xbox 360 may be, and gaming console is “number one” in the U.S. market, but take it won in tough fight with its competitors too early. Xbox 360 was launched on November 22, 2005 Its main competitors PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii went on the market a year later - 17 and November 19, 2006, respectively. Taking into account the annual benefit, Microsoft achieve relatively small. For example, Wii appeared one year later, but in the same States, its sales amounted to 8.8 million already units. While Microsoft boasted sales of Xbox 360, that is certainly good news for shareholders, Nintendo can circumvent it in two accounts, notes Ars Technica.

In his statement, Microsoft announced that Xbox 360 leads both in the USA and abroad, but the allegation is untrue, in any case, its second part. At the end of March 2008 global sales of Nintendo Wii reached the mark in almost 24.5 million, which is 5.5 million when compared with the Xbox 360 - and this with an annual advantage of the latter. For the most complete picture of the market to let that world sales of Sony PlayStation 3 amounted to 12.8 million consoles.

Meanwhile, there were rumors on the Net on a possible upgrade Xbox 360 next year. According to some sources, in 2009 may withdraw more thin and light Xbox 360, similar in size to the PS2. However, Microsoft denied this information.