28 million Xbox 360s sold, 17 million on Xbox Live
Microsoft announces another sales milestone for cheapest current-generation console and its online service; XBLM revenue hits $1 billion.
Last October, Microsoft reported that its Xbox 360 console sold 2.2 million units during the July-September quarter, an increase of 20 percent. In November, NPD reported that the console sold more than 800,000 units, thanks in part to the hard-drive-less Arcade 360 becoming the cheapest console at $199.
Though it is still withholding December sales numbers--US figures from NPD are expected next Thursday--Microsoft revealed today its worldwide, life-to-date numbers for the 360. From the time it launched in November 2005 to December 31, 2008, the console has sold more than 28 million units internationally, which is 4 million more than the original Xbox did in its five-year life cycle.
As Microsoft pointed out repeatedly in its announcement, the 28 million figure puts the 360 ahead of the PlayStation 3, which the company estimates has sold 20 million units life-to-date. Microsoft did not provide a source for the 20 million figure, and it didn't mention that the PS3 launched a full year after the 360 in November 2006. That month also saw the launch of the Nintendo Wii, which overtook the 360 last year with nearly 35 million units sold as of the end of October--and sold more than 2 million units in November in the US.
One of the 360's most universally praised features is its Xbox Live service, which now boasts 17 million active members. Since the console's launch, those members have spent more than $1 billion on products on Xbox Live Marketplace, according to Microsoft. Spending on the service increased 84 percent in 2008, a trend that the company said accelerated after the New Xbox Experience dashboard reboot launched in November. From Christmas to New Year's Day, 1.5 million "concurrent members" logged on to XBL.
Content you might like…
-
Xbox 360 vs. PS3 Graphics Comparison Round 5

Six more games in the eternal battle between the consoles!
- Dec 23, 2009
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
BioShock 2 Interview: Kent Hudson, Martin Slater, and Alex Vancomerback
2K Marin and 2K Australia developers talk about international studio collaboration, addressing the issues of the original, and making things more personal in the upcoming sequel. Full Story
- Posted Feb 8, 2010 12:54 am GMT
-
ModNation Racers PSP First Look Interview
We talk to the developers of ModNation Racers on the PSP as we take our very first look at the game! Full Story
- Posted Feb 5, 2010 2:00 pm GMT
Featured Stories
-
Sony sells 6.5M PS3s in Q4, posts $871.2M profit
Electronics giant back in black after months in red; PS3's sales jump by 2 million during holidays--life-to-date sales hit 33.5 million; PSP and PS2 sales slump, annual game-software sales estimate cut by 40 million units. Full Story
- Posted Feb 4, 2010 9:57 am GMT
- 503 Comments
-
Xbox Live dropping original Xbox support April 15
Cessation of online play will affect all XBL-enabled games for Microsoft's original console, including Xbox Originals and Xbox 360-optimized games like Halo 2; single-player games will function normally. Full Story
- Posted Feb 5, 2010 5:37 pm GMT
- 701 Comments
-
Fallout: New Vegas drops fall 2010, first trailer debuts
[UPDATE] Bethesda confirms Obsidian-developed installment in postnuclear RPG series will arrive later this year for PS3, 360, and PC; teaser trailer for game inside. Full Story
- Posted Feb 4, 2010 3:38 pm GMT
- 351 Comments
-
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 goes episodic this summer
Project Needlemouse revealed as side-scrolling sequel to speedster's original Genesis trilogy; Episode 1 confirmed for Wii, Xbox 360, PS3. Full Story
- Posted Feb 4, 2010 8:02 am GMT
- 250 Comments
-
Splinter Cell: Conviction infiltrates April 13
Ubisoft uses conventional announcement tactic to announce fifth--and apparently final--release revision for the Xbox 360 and PC Tom Clancy stealth-actioner. Full Story
- Posted Feb 4, 2010 9:01 pm GMT
- 199 Comments





imjustjames posted Jan 9, 2009 7:58 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)