MS: 17.7 million 360s sold

Microsoft's latest installed-user-base figure suggests 18 percent drop in hardware sales; Halo 3 hits 8.1M, Mass Effect moves 1.6M.

Last month's full retail sales figures haven't been tallied just yet, but Microsoft today gave number-hungry gamers a few morsels to tide them over. Calling its Xbox 360 the industry leader "hands down," Microsoft announced that it had sold 17.7 million systems worldwide.

While that's the highest announced installed user base of the current-generation consoles--Nintendo in an October financial report projected worldwide Wii sales of 17.5 million through March of 2008--it suggests 2007 sales of the Xbox 360 were actually down nearly 18 percent from the year before.

At the company's early-January 2007 Consumer Electronics Show keynote address, Microsoft announced an installed user base of 10.4 million, which would put 2007's tally at 7.3 million systems sold. Microsoft announced sales of 1.5 million for the system's 2005 launch quarter, which suggests that 2006 sales would have totaled 8.9 million, significantly more than 2007's 7.3 million total.

The Xbox 360's biggest game to date also received a sales update, as Microsoft revealed that it had sold 8.1 million copies of Halo 3 since its September release. Combined with the hardware base, this suggests that nearly 46 percent of Xbox 360 owners have purchased a copy of the Bungie-developed shooter.

Microsoft claims that its other holiday-season sci-fi epic, the BioWare-developed Mass Effect, sold 1.6 million copies in its first six weeks on sale. The November release was intended to be the first installment in a trilogy for Microsoft and the Xbox 360, but it remains to be seen exactly what impact, if any, Electronic Arts' acquisition of BioWare will have on the series' future.

More Microsoft numbers are likely to be revealed during the company's 2008 CES keynote address on Sunday evening. Check back with GameSpot for full coverage of the event.

804 Comments

  • MastaBlack

    Posted Jan 30, 2008 5:33 pm GMT

    17.7 million eh? I wonder how many of those had to be sent back for repair? i own two 360's one which just arrived in McAllen,Tx foe its THIRD vacation in 14 months. The other one's coffin just arrived today for its first trip down south (i live in NY)since i bought it 9 months ago. funny how my original Nintendo (original, super, and 64),Genesis (& sega CD), and Turbo Grafx 16 still work after being in my attic for a minimum of 8 years a piece. I love my 360's a lot but this is BS i should get M$ point instead. I pay for LIVE yearly so Micro$oft doesn 't lose anything cause i plan on playing as long as i am capable so how does 5 free months (altogether) help me? anyway i am off topic 17.7 million!!!!!! congrats M$, congrats. i'm gonna sell one of those b!t@h#s for a Wii

  • pyloslaw

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 10:37 am GMT

    There are so many microsoft haters here, but the fact is 90 % of us have been using their products for years, and are going to use them in the future. Microsoft is computing ! While Sony... sony is famous for other electronic devices such as Tv's, vcr's, dvd's, now maybe blueray players, before playstation they had nothing to do with computing, except Trinitron monitors maybe... They released PS one, great success, then PS2, even greater. But Microsoft is learning from mistakes made in the past, while sony decided to stay at the same level as ps2, except graphics. Thats why this war is already won by X360, and i cheer M$

    btw: ps pads sux, ps3 pad is better but still xbox has better ones ;] thats my opinion. i just cant play PES on PS pad, analog pads are wrong placed in ps.

  • sampateman

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 8:47 am GMT

    Xbox 360 = Best Console for games, online play etc
    Nintendo Wii = Involves you in the game, fun 'novelty' games
    PS3= Overpriced, overhyped, ugly, no games, crap online play and the list goes on...

    360 : 1st
    Wii : 2nd
    PS3 : Doesn't even deserve to be on this list


    I'm not a fanboy, not at all, but I just see consoles for what they are, meaning that the 360 and the Wii are both really good consoles. Just a shame about the PS3. Meh.

  • gin_rummy89

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 2:42 am GMT

    damn I don't like EA not only will Mass Effect 2 probably suck (everything with the EA logo on it does) it may not be exclusive.

  • ronnet

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 1:29 am GMT

    I love my 360, but I dont consider myself a fanboy maybe a fan but that's it. I would like to see Microsoft win the console war but I have no dreams of seeing Sony go down. It also wouldnt be very realistic as they stil make a decen profit on the PS2. And Sony doesnt look like the company that would just quite, and they have more then enough profit in other departments to make up for it. Blu-Ray i starting to become a success aswell, but that was like their 5th format, all four before that losed to their competitor. Butt hat alone proofs that Sony wont give up, unfortunatly for them that wont save the PS3. I think the PS3 will end like the original xbox, not bad enough to throw in the towell but also not good enough to celebrate. All consoles have their ups and downs, only a fanboy could say that one console really sucks. They all win in their own way and to their own audience.

  • xfan-atic

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:08 pm GMT

    Halo 3 is an amazing game: it has a superb campaign with lots of customization (4 different difficulties + Meta Game + Skulls + 4 player CoOp), FORGE, Saved Films, and the most balanced multiplayer ever created (albait the broken melee). I Really think it deserves have so many sales and I am proud of being in that 46%...

  • Homerj

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:38 am GMT

    "because unlike Sega, Micrcosoft can fight Sony dollar for dollar and then some and we all know Sony financial situation"

    It wont be a fair financial fight for long....after a new stock IP offering and selling their cell production plants to raise capital, Sony still is swimming in red ink in its entertainment division. Sooner or later, the well will run dry.

  • akoolbrother420

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:14 am GMT

    Thank you Homer and ronnet and well said... If Sony fanboys spent mnore time buying games instead of commenting negatively on every single 360 thread maybe they could have more than one game other than a launch title that sold more than a million. All last year we hear wait until Warhawk, wait until Lair, wait until Heavenly Sword, wait until R&C, wait until the price cut and the masses didn't come running. If Microsoft had downgraded equipment and had a price cut in the first year Sony fanboys would have had a field day, but make excuses for Sony. Yes Microsoft had a RR problem, but no more than Sony's 'read disk error' problem and at least Microsoft owned up to it and made concussions to repair the systems for free and return the money to people that paid already, unlike Sony who denied it at first and then made you pay $150 to repair it or a $100 trade in credit on a new one. Just play YOUR games and let everybody else games on the system they chose, because unlike Sega, Micrcosoft can fight Sony dollar for dollar and then some and we all know Sony financial situation

  • Homerj

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:48 am GMT

    Well put ronnet....well said.
    And as an addendum to what you said: If Sony Fan Boys really want the rest of the gaming community and the third party developers to take them seriously.....stop whining about how bad the 360 is in your eyes, and start buying some damn games for your own console of choice. Sony took away all backwards compatibility on the PS3 to force you people to buy some games....how much of a hint do you guys need? The PS3 is finished if the best selling game on the PS3 can barely top 2million copies in one full year. Your blathering means absolutely nothing until you people start putting some PS3 games in the top ten sales charts.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 6:58 am GMT

    still hoping to see the Mass Effect trilogy play out on 360....what a lovely game.

  • ronnet

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 10:03 pm GMT

    Akiwak, your profile only lists PS3 games, but that's just a side note. We arent tollerating it, if you actually had a 360 and visited the 360 main board then you would definatly now this. PROD is a problem, unfortunatly the PS3 or even the Wii doesnt have the exclusives that I want. And the service issues only lasted a week or so, and it's over for most people now. I know Microsoft's success must irritate you and if you must be a fanboy then be a fanboy. But instead of deceasing MIcrosoft's support by talking about their negatives you should go increase the PS3 support by talking about their possitives. If the PS3 really had that much stuff the mayority of the gamers are interested in then it will sell more then the 360 now that the price is down.

  • Uberbadassmufuh

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 8:13 pm GMT

    Meh, and 7.7 million of hose are people replacing their rroded 360's.

  • akiwak

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 4:41 pm GMT

    " Listen Up Gamers"
    This is a comments section of a popular website so all information is welcome. I enjoy the fanboy put downs, jokes and all but it is funny to see so many people settling for one thing.
    17.7 million 360's and now M$ is making a profit with them 10 million XBL members, close to $500 million in service fees. It began with RROD then it gets followed up by service issues with XBL. What is upsetting me is the fact that some people are ok with this. No one should tolerate this, the continued support that M$ gets means that we as gamers are willing to tolerate this. What would be next? I for one do not want to wait for their next big blunder.If you don't think that there is going to be another major blunder get out from underneath the rock and take a look around. My message to you is don't settle, voice your opinion, and game on!!!

  • Anthrax88

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 3:58 pm GMT

    I've only had a minor problem with my Xbox, but it got fixed fast and we got a month of free Xbox live Gold since we lost a week of it.

    Great service! Great machine! Great games! Great fun!

  • evolucid

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 2:38 pm GMT

    I had a launch 360 that lasted 2 years. I got it back in exactly two weeks, and that included Thanksgiving. My PS3 hasn't broken, but it's just a big dust-collecting paperweight. Hopefully soon there will be games to validate its purchase.

  • whitey3221

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 2:10 pm GMT

    Ape_Escape_1Fan
    "
    "Umm, I'd rather there not be a need for the warranty in the first place. My brother has a launch PS2, and so does my GF, and they both play like the day they came out of the box. Also, last time I looked, the "warranty" means u have to ship your system to washington, wait six months, then you get a REFURB (note: another FAILED system) back and then get to hope that it doesn't FAIL as well.

    ...that sound like a good idea to anyone?"


    The fact that you said GF makes your opinion as invalid as hell but...my 360 took little more than three weeks to repair after one year of working perfectly. Somebody needs to read a little before posting.
    "

    I couldn't agree with Ape Escape more. Some of you people don't know what you are talking about. I have had to send my 360 in, but I've also had to send my PS3 in. Sony were a bunch of vagtastic voyages about it and microsoft got my 360 back to me in about 3 weeks. The PS3 broke about 2 weeks after I started using it. The thing is my 360 ended up breaking twice more. However with the third time they told me to send the power supply because they were finding out that the power supplies were what was causing this repeated malfunction. From the day I sent it in the third time to when I got it back was 5 business days. Plus at least when you call microsoft you get a person even if it is "Raj" from Turkmenistan at least it's a person and not a machine. Also Microsofts repair center is in Texas so you don't have to send it all the way to Washington, however this is one of the most idiotic arguments I have heard considering it doesn't matter where it is going because it will get there in the same time considering that Microsoft pays for the shipping to be 2-day air or 3-day or whatever it is they use. It costs the customer no more or less, and it takes no more or less time.

    Lastly when I had to send my PS3 in they sent it back to me because I didn't have a receipt with it, I had to wade through 15 minutes of BS on the Sony Customer Support line so I could chew somebody out, because I had already talked to somebody that said it would be fine if I sent it without the receipt. So after about a month and a half and getting it back once and sending it back again because it had not even been repaired I finally got it back.

    So next time you try to say that the PS3 is better because the 360 breaks, get something to back you up m'kay sugar.

  • iory2

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 11:16 am GMT

    C_Blade 100% agreed, dont think EA can survive cutting corners on some titles though

  • C_Blade

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 11:09 am GMT

    I don't know how, but somehow we need to stop EA from taking over everything. They are just trying to become the monopoly within the gaming industry and with such acquisitions like Bioware and Pandemic, they are one step closer. Personally, I find that EA's involvement in game production usually just means them cutting corners to try to sell a game as well as possible without making it as well as possible. EA is pure business, and not consumer satisfaction. Down with the tyranny!

  • Homerj

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 10:11 am GMT

    Until there is a single software title that sells to more than 40% of the install base of the PS3, everything coming from Sony Fan boys is "all sound and fury, signifying nothing." If SFBs want something to make their console "superior", they could start by shutting up and buying some damn games (the ONLY significant GOTY contender exclusive to PS3 was Ratchet and Clank...which sold far less than 500k copies worldwide).

  • vision2020

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 9:51 am GMT

    360 rules I like PS3 as well but I love me some 360

  • Phazevariance

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 7:41 am GMT

    My 360 has never broekn down. I'm completely happy and satisfied with the 360 that I purchased and would buy their next console too.

  • zey2k

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 3:28 am GMT

    DAMN i'm one of the other 54%>

  • AngelsongCA

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 2:13 am GMT

    The old and tired fall back.

  • stfolife

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 12:18 am GMT

    great and let me guess 17.6 million sent back for repairs

  • ronnet

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 11:54 pm GMT

    VegetaMaelstrom, Microsoft already said that they arent competing with the Wii because it has a different audience, and that they onlt share a small audience together. Nintendo is aiming towards a different group and that group is buying a lot of Wii consoles because they are cheap, unfortunatly they areny buying games for it. Nintendo always had a different target group then Sony and Microsoft because they realised they couldnt compete with Sony when the PS1 came out. They really lost with the gamecube, selling even less then newcomer Microsoft with the original xbox. Now they have a compleetly different audience and a console that cant be compaired to the 360 and PS3. It has beaten the 360 in console sales and will probably sell 5 times as much before this generation is over. After all they are getting that mainstream audience that made the PS1 and PS2 so big. But Microsoft is interested in selling games, and gamers but games, not my little sister who only has 1 game for her Wii.

  • laitheybaby

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 10:27 pm GMT

    The guy who wrote this article forgot to mention that figure does not include christmas sales. Software sales are what's most important anyhow, and that's where 360 dominates ps3 fan boys "hands down". MGS4 will never equal Halo 3's 8.1 million (in 3 months).

  • kingrich06

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 7:19 pm GMT

    good for us consumers with the 3 boys fighting for our $$$$

  • akoolbrother420

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 6:59 pm GMT

    HM- still sold more than Sony with it's three revisions and price drop in it's first year. Gross to be honest doesn't it

  • VegetaMaelstrom posted Jan 6, 2008 4:16 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    VegetaMaelstrom

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 4:16 pm GMT (hide)

    Microsoft may be the console leader at the moment but I am predicting when Nintendo passes them in the next few months that Microsoft will suddenly start spinning a different tune about how they aren't really competing with the Wii seeing as how they don't consider it a "current gen" system. From then on the comparisons will be to Sony's installed base alone. And the lemmings will swallow it whole.

  • Agermemnon

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 3:11 pm GMT

    Good to see some gamers with sense still out there enjoying the 360 as any gamer should and why not , it has a great lineup of games and that is what it is about .

  • HMtheJJ posted Jan 6, 2008 2:50 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    HMtheJJ

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 2:50 pm GMT (hide)

    "dmish82 17.7 million 360's

    17.7 million RROD's

    ;-)"

    with a 36% failure rate, which means the REAL sale number is : 11328000 for two year??? what a pity!!! Kinda Gross to be honest!!!

  • mikeisaniceguy

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 12:30 pm GMT

    2 dollars

  • goyolap

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 11:31 am GMT

    do any one knows how much ps3 sell at the end of 2007

  • mattgamer96

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 8:56 am GMT

    HALO 3!!!!!!!!

  • bennae66

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 7:14 am GMT

    good to see the 360 doing so well. i still like my wii also, tho im playing overlord on the 360 right now and im finding it suprisingly enjoyable. the systems get along just fine side by side.

  • pinballman

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 5:33 am GMT

    8.1 million copies of Halo 3, WOW!!!!! I think it is one of the best games out there right now. Great graphics, awesome replay value! I wonder if Xbox Live memberships went up after Halo 3 came out? Halo 3 could be the most populer and best selling game of all time. The first game sold the Xbox and the second game was a huge seller for Xbox Live service and was still played through today. Now Halo 3.

    Could we have Halo 4 soon????????

  • Paktahn

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 5:23 am GMT

    I was hoping Mass Effect would have sold more. It's truely awesome but I guess it's early days yet and there might be other versions coming now EA bought Bioware. Everyone should play this game.

  • laitheybaby

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 4:54 am GMT

    8.1 million!!! in 3 months!!!

  • scottdavis559 posted Jan 6, 2008 4:28 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    scottdavis559

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 4:28 am GMT (hide)

    wow...if it was 18% down in 2007 with mass effect, halo 3, forza 2 and bioshock released...imagine how bad it will do this year in 2008 with practically nothing compared to 2007's exclusives out this year

  • bunyip94

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 4:03 am GMT

    i dont understand is that sold or shipped, and if this is true then vg chartz is heaps wrong and xbox 360 is still sold more, which is good i guess cause i love my 360 but cant say i really care

  • HMtheJJ posted Jan 6, 2008 12:31 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    HMtheJJ

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 12:31 am GMT (hide)

    lol, "hands down", u had a one full year head start, MS has no shame!!! and 18% down, it makes perfect sense, in the beginin, ppl had less choice and only bought X360, now less and less ppl would buy one, and give it another good one and half yrs. X360 will be another XBOX, ONLY with more bad than good (consider it's failure rates, bad consumer service, and recently XBL problem)...!!! MS is such a failure in recent years, (Vista for example)

  • Karjah posted Jan 5, 2008 8:59 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Karjah

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 8:59 pm GMT (hide)

    Frankly at this point you fix it so It's a depenable product with a good (read at least 5 year) warrenty and I'll buy it.

    I won't buy something that has a 30%+ chance of breaking down. That's just not a good idea.

  • firesoccer849

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 5:38 pm GMT

    xbox 360(when it works) is hands-down better than ps3 imo

  • mikeisaniceguy

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 4:57 pm GMT

    Why would anyone be fighting about a game system. i have a wii and I find it pretty fun. My neibor has a 360 and me and him play with each others consoles all the time. Sounds kinda wrong. Peace out.

  • brianpoetzel

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 4:09 pm GMT

    What's with all the 360 hate in here?

  • Delongman

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 2:56 pm GMT

    wats up with the hater and their RROD... quite frankly peeps are buying it despite the flaw... wat?

  • NotAFurry

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 2:29 pm GMT

    "Industry leader hands down"... bwahahahaha!

  • akiwak posted Jan 5, 2008 1:34 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    akiwak

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 1:34 pm GMT (hide)

    17.7 million Xbox360 sold and only 2.4 million actually work.

  • 7thRonin posted Jan 5, 2008 12:19 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    7thRonin

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 12:19 pm GMT (hide)

    thats a lot of red ringed xboxs replaced.. there !

  • hattorihanzo32 posted Jan 5, 2008 6:34 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    hattorihanzo32

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 6:34 am GMT (hide)

    wasn't the 360 out a year ahead of the other 2 consoles? and those sales figures are what they sold to retailers not what the consumers bought. and didn't the wii surpass the 360 consumer base already keyword consumer

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