14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is very keen on pointing out the successes of its Xbox 360 gaming console, especially when the comparison is in the detriment of the Sony made PlayStation 3. Europe is the battleground where Microsoft is now claiming full victory. The company says that this November has been the best one the console division has had since the 2005 launch of the Xbox 360.
Chris Lewis, who is the vice president of the Xbox division for the region, stated that “November was a very significant milestone for Xbox, we sold the most consoles ever in our history in Europe, and are outselling PlayStation 3 week-on-week across Europe”. The data that Microsoft uses is provided by GfK Chart-Track.
When compared to November 2007, the sales of the Xbox 360 went up by 124%, while Nintendo Wii sales grew only by 43% and PlayStation 3 numbers moved up by 3%. The big reason for the leap of the Microsoft made console is the price cut introduced in September, which brought the price of the Xbox 360 Arcade under that of the Wii, at around 179.99 dollars.
Chris Lewis added that “In the current economic conditions, consumers are more cautious than ever and looking for more value for their entertainment spend. Xbox 360 delivers that value - we're now the best-value next-gen console on the market and this positive momentum indicates Xbox 360 is offering the right blend of gaming and entertainment experiences at the right price”.
Even though Microsoft is bragging about its sales figures, it should be noted that overall, the Nintendo Wii is outselling the Xbox 360 even after the price cut. The sales numbers for November and December will show whether the New Xbox Experience, the redesigned interface meant to rebrand the Xbox 360 as a more family friendly device, has had any impact on sales or not.