570°

Confusion over 360 sales numbers

MCV: Question marks are being asked about Microsoft's claim that Xbox 360 console sold over 10m units in North America in 2009.

That number comes from a Microsoft statement released in the wake of NPD's December and 2009 report which reads: "In 2009 US Xbox 360 console sales topped 10m units, with more than 1.3m sold in December, contributing to a worldwide Xbox 360 install base of 39m."

However, eagle-eyed MCV readers have pointed out that this number seems very much at odds with NPDs own numbers.

ThatCanadianGuy5216d ago

So Microsoft just flat out lied? *Gasp* I'm shocked!

RadientFlux5216d ago

^^ saying something negative about Microsoft... completely shocked

Back on topic it just seems that a PR person misspoke or confused the WW numbers with US numbers.

Mr_Bun5216d ago

MS like to round up (or down depending which sounds better) regarding their numbers, until they get called out...."The defective rate for the 360 is well within industry standards"....'member that line?

StanLee5216d ago

How the fcuk do you go from 4.7 to 10?! O_o That's not even creative math that's fiction!

Christopher5216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

It's highly unlikely that Microsoft even sold 10m worldwide. North America has so far always sold more in North America each month than the other regions combined. I do think Microsoft was talking worldwide, but even then what they are claiming is that for the last two months of the year they sold just as many Xbox 360s worldwide as the Wii. There's no way that happened

marinelife95216d ago

Are we even sure they sold 10 million worldwide? They've sold squat in Japan and less in Europe lifetime to date than in the US.

Anon19745216d ago

The only ones who really know exactly how many 360's have gone out are Microsoft. That being said, could NPD group be wrong by almost half? Not bloody likely. So something's up, we just don't know what it is.

10 million worldwide for the year would probably be more likely.

hay5216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

2009 NPD numbers:
Jan 309000
Feb 391000
Mar 330000
Apr 175000
May 175000
Jun 240600
Jul 202900
Aug 215400
Sep 352600
Oct 249700
Nov 819500
Dec 1310000

Total: 4770700

It's more like a mistake IMO. Every company bends the truth, more or less, but this lie would be just dumb.

AliTheBrit195216d ago

Yeah they lied! :O

Just like Sony! and Nintendo! and every other Company ever created! :O

rezenu5216d ago

...Uh-oh.

*puts on flamesuit quickly*

mint royale5216d ago

Th 10 million is worldwide 360 sales cos there is no way they sold that many in America. Vgchartz has their estimate at 10.2 million for worldwide sales which is about right.

This is a curious thing to say by MS, its either a mistake or a deliberate attempt to twist the truth. It reminds me of when sony stated the ps2 was outselling the wii in 2007. A proposterous claim and it later turned out they meant overall sales. Well duh! Every company does it.

Udidntlistenpunk5216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

Many gamers have stated this long time ago, even way back in 2006.

What lies like these have in common with other aggressive revenue practises is that they always come to light in the future. Because if you take sales away from the future, when that future comes, there will be a gap.

And that gap is the red flag.

That is why many people have stated that 360s true install base is not 39 million but closer to 35 million in reality.

Anon19745216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

Microsoft is a publicly traded company and when it comes down to things like sales numbers they can't lie. They're subject to audit and have a responsibility to accurately report sales numbers to their shareholders.

An exec slipping up is one thing, it's bound to happen. At the end of the day their numbers will have to stand up to auditing. I'm sure this is just a slip-up and they meant worldwide numbers for calendar 2009. Looks like 360 sales may have fallen a bit year over year.

Edit Below: Oh, I'm not saying investors care. You're 100% correct, the Xbox is tiny compared to Microsoft's larger operations. But they're still subject to audit. Legally, they can't fudge these numbers because if the bean counters find discrepancies there are serious repercussions. These are all things that go on behind the scenes that attempt to keep publicly traded companies honest. However, we all know examples were the companies did lie and didn't get caught right away... ie: Enron. You'll also right about investors caring about the bottom line. Microsoft isn't running a charity for gamers. At some point they need to start making some of those losses back. I've heard analysts in the past suggest Microsoft needs to dump the entire Xbox division and just focus on software - where they've been historically stronger.

Udidntlistenpunk5216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

What you dont understand is that investors dont give a crap about MSs gaming business because the entire business is immaterial compared to MSs Windows division.

THATS where MS makes over 98% of its earnings and thats their main business. MSs gaming division can barely get a profit for a full year.

Think about that for a moment. Who the fk cares how many XBOXses gets shipped or sold. Its immaterial to MSs financials.

The only ones it will hurt, are gamers. It doesnt hurt anyone else. Thats why MS is getting away with it.

The only thing that investors DO care about MSs gaming business, is their 9 billion loss in the gaming business. If they whine about that long enough, Balmer will drop the XBOX division like a brick. And than, that will be the end of the XBOX console.

KingME5216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

NeverMind, who know...

mint royale5216d ago

Gotta love some random sticking his head in the sand and saying they have actually only sold 35 million with no proof whatsoever and actually thinking he is right. MS have stated they had sold 39 million to retailers. To consumers more like 37-37.5 million - like what vgchartz has it at.

SixZeroFour5216d ago

i think they were talking about total (since release) sales in us going past 10mil...since the total 360s shipped is about 40 mil, that would make sense that 1/4 of the total sales were coming from US

Cueil5216d ago

if you want to understand how microsoft reports numbers goto vgcharz

ReservoirDog3165216d ago

Well, I thought npd doesn't count walmart. With mw2 being advertised so heavily at walmart, I'd imagine a lot of those missing sales were from walmart.

Just cause we don't see it on npd doesn't mean MS didn't get the money for it. So yeah.

If I'm wrong about any of that, sorry.

Saaking5216d ago

Like I said a while back, MS likes making stuff up. That's why they're probably the worst company around and certainly the worst of the Big three.

MS is stuck between Sony and Nintendo. At the start of this gen, MS was trying hard to be like the PS brand (which of course is laughable and failed). Now, MS is gravitating more towards Nintendo. They need to form an identity by themselves, not steal one from the others.

Traveler5216d ago

I think it is fairly obvious that it was just a slip up. The rep probably had the worldwide number stuck in their head and they just misspoke. It happens to all of us. Let's not make more out of this than it is.

Dutch Boogie5216d ago

lol quick fanboys, put on the corporate cape with the big "M" on the front. Time to aid M$ for the millionth time.

SaberEdge5215d ago (Edited 5215d ago )

Yeah, Dutch Boogie, just like you and the rest of the hoards of PS3 fanboys that flood into every article to attack Microsoft.

Look at Saaking up there. All he ever does is lie and make crap up about Microsoft and the 360.

Hey Saaking, the 360 does have its own identity. The Xbox brand has always been about the online experience. It is a very well rounded platform, with a huge game library and many nice media features, but the online has always been its strength. Half the online stuff we just take for granted today on consoles was actually introduced by Microsoft and later copied by Sony.

What specifically was Sony's identity that Microsoft "stole"? ...other than just being a game console with lots of good games?

The truth is, Microsoft have forged their own identity for the Xbox platform within the gaming industry, and you just don't want to give credit where credit is due.

+ Show (22) more repliesLast reply 5215d ago
Omega45216d ago

I dont think its legal for MS to lie about their numbers so they have obviously sold 39ml WW.

That 10ml they were talking about must obviously mean WW not just the US.

5216d ago
mrv3215216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

'I dont think its legal for MS to lie about their numbers so they have obviously sold 39ml WW.'

Because Microsoft have never ever broken the law and not in a current legla battle in terms of patent breach.

That 10ml they were talking about must obviously mean WW not just the US.'

So your telling me that Microsoft sold 9 million in 7 months?

'On May 28, 2009, Microsoft announced that sales have surpassed the 30-million unit-mark'

Also

'The NPD for the month of December 2009 showed the console sold 1.3 million units in around the Holiday season, with the company confirming the console has sold over 10 million units throughout the year in the US.'

http://www.vg247.com/2010/0...

While I agree it could be a Mistake, I am not 100% that it's a mistake, unlike you.

I also believe Microsoft have not been completely legal issue free.. Domiance lawsuit anyone?

EDIT: I'm sorry in future I'll remove logic from my comments and have complete faith in a company who cares more for money than customer satisfaction. I didn't take your reply as a serious dig, BTW. Just incase you would thin I'm angry at you.

mint royale5216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

@mrv

Do you actually have a link from MS saying they passed 30 million in May? There point hating on the basis of misinformation.

Lazarus695216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

@mint

Actually i think they said they shipped 30.2millions by the end of March 2009

mrv3215216d ago

http://www.gamasutra.com/ph...

There you go, mind you I'm not 100% sure on the information.

mint royale5216d ago

Thats a weird article seeing as the above posted is correct and they had stated they had sold 30.2 million consoles by the end of March in their financial reports.

Cueil5216d ago

I don't know whether to inform you people of the truth or just cry... it's impossible to instruct all the ignorant

SaberEdge5215d ago

Madden10, you are another one of those people that is willing to lie to try and attack the 360. The failure rate WAS NEVER 60% even at its worst. That is a blatant lie.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5215d ago
iron_sheik5216d ago

x360 sold 2.2m in US and lets say another 200k in canada
MS sold 2.5 in NA . MS sold around 100k in Japan .There is no way MS would sell another 3m in Europe since europeans dont buy x360(except British)

so definitely that 5.5m is a fake number. more like 4m -4.5m
ofcourse around 8m is likely for PS3 since SONY sold 1m more PS3 in japan and around 2m more in europe)ps3's strongest region

also if you include q4 then ps3 outsold x360 by 20k

**we will wait for SONY's numbers when they announce their fiscal results . i expect around 8m shipment (out of that 7.5m could be the SOLD numbers). I expect SONY to ship 4m ps3s in europe for q4

champ215216d ago

its sooooo exciting waiting for sold numbers on consoles amirite?

ps3 outselling the 360 will ensure i sleep well at night :P

4point7BillionLoss5216d ago

lame article and the same droids jumping on it like the idiots who believed the fake article in may last year saying S3 sold over 30 million units ...

droids ... get your teeth whitened !!!

Sir Ken_Kutaragi5216d ago

...just LIE and LIE. It's sad really...oh well...at least the ChatBots&ModBots got 'Project Wii Natal' coming in 2010!!! ;-D

TheTeam065216d ago

The Wii sold 9.6mil worldwide in 09.

You mean to tell me that you think the 360 outsold the Wii this year? Not to forget they clearly said "in the US".

Traveler5216d ago

That person either misspoke or were misquoted. It isn't the issue some of you are trying to make it out to be.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5216d ago
Immortal3215216d ago

I would be mad knowing that 360's console good games are multiplat for this year. I also would be glad if a multiplat imitates a very good game as a alternative.

you just beat an Halo game now another one coming your way. you just have to appreciate that a good exclusive coming your way with such a low standard not caring if the game looks bad or not.

Terry Tate5216d ago (Edited 5216d ago )

Why exactly would an Xbox gamer be mad? Just because a game was multiplatform doesn't mean its a crappy game or shouldn't be played. In fact, the multiplatform games tend to look better on my xbox than they do on my Playstation. For me, I like my multiplats on my Xbox mostly because I hate the playstation controller. Either way, every console has its slow year of exclusives. 2010 looks to be better for the Xbox than 2009 was in this regard.

Now, that being said, in order for me to enjoy the games on my Xbox it needs to stay working. I wonder if the sales numbers count warranty claimes? Does an Xbox repaired and shipped count as a unit "sold"? I would hope not, because that would definitely skew the numbers.

Immortal3215216d ago

like the ssx series, burnout series, and the bioshock series. If a multiplat does not contain the quality of any of those games
(very addictive gameplay) listed they're pretty much shovel ware.

mesh15216d ago

sure sure sony fans are funny

bujasem_895216d ago

what does that have to do with anything ??? lol ... is this what desperation leads to just mindless blabber?? wow not pretty , i feel kinda sorry for'em poor bots

Show all comments (141)
60°

Pacific Rim Pinball comes to Pinball FX

This could be fun as they make great tables. Go big or go extinct. Prime your senses for a neural handshake and step into the cockpit of a Jaeger. It is on you to cancel the apocalypse when Pacific Rim Pinball comes to Pinball FX on May 16.

290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv722d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle1d 12h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18811d 10h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio1d 9h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning771d 5h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga1d 12h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv7222h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer199217h ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21831d 11h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga1d 10h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan1d 6h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit23h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus231d 5h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv721d 4h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier17h ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan9h ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 9h ago
purple1011d 15h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos1d 14h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-1d 4h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac1d 13h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1011d 13h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic1d 11h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead1d 4h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 4h ago
Show all comments (46)
140°

Why Monopolies In Gaming Must Not Be Allowed

As of right now, there are no monopolies in the games industry, and for the sake of the medium as a whole, they never should either.

thorstein2d ago

Shouldn't be allowed in any field.

Inverno1d 20h ago

And yet the biggest tech companies in America are essentially that. They buy up all the small comps only to kill them off and steal what they have, and if they can't buy em they bleed them to death.

jwillj2k41d 19h ago

Eventually they’ll realize the value is with the employee not the company. Buying an IP means nothing if the people who contributed are let go. They’ll get it one day.

MrCrimson1d 18h ago

tech is different because they buy threats and then kill them. Twitter bought Vine and did nothing with it. Despite people seemingly liking it. Could've had tiktok a decade before bytedance. go figure.

Zenzuu1d 19h ago

Monopolies shouldn't be allowed regardless. Not just for gaming.

MrCrimson1d 18h ago

They buy IPs not talent. That's why these buyouts never work and the IPs die. Right now it's too expensive to develop games - but I expect that to shift maybe as AI tools can make it easier. The best games have been indie games for awhile as big developers fuck their ips to death with "games as a service" -