Microsoft claims Xbox 360 sales up 100% after price cuts
By Dave Parrack
When Microsoft announced it was cutting the price of the whole range of Xbox 360 models, there was instant speculation as to whether they would prompt a rise in sales or make no difference whatsoever. It seems the former has happened… at least according to Microsoft, and concerning the first weekend.
Microsoft announced the price cuts, which saw $50 dropped from the price of both the Elite and Pro models, and $80 cut from the Arcade model, on September 4th. The price cuts then came in to action just a day later on the 5th.
Microsoft has wasted no time in declaring the price cuts successful, and has sent out an email congratulating itself on a job well done. Kotaku printed the email, which claims a 100% increase in Xbox 360 sales over the first weekend after the price cuts came in to effect.
Coming off the heels of the console price drop last week, Microsoft Xbox 360 sales have surged, with retailers reporting over 100% sales lift for all Xbox 360 models compared to the previous weekend. Additionally, retailers are reporting that between Friday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 7, some Xbox 360 models were selling at six times the rate they were the weekend prior.
At $199, Xbox 360 is now not only the most affordable next-generation console available, but it also packs more entertainment punch per dollar than any other consumer electronics device connected to your TV. Xbox 360 invites you into a limitless world where the best games, movies and TV shows live side by side with your personal pictures and music library, and the experience is ready to share anytime with friends in your living room or across the globe through Xbox LIVE.
That is corporate gloating of the highest order, especially as it only relates to the first three days after the price cuts came in to effect. Of course sales were going to increase, what with all the added publicity surrounding the Xbox 360, but whether the increased sales will continue after the initial buzz remains to be seen.
There’s also the fact that Microsoft use the collective term “retailers” rather than naming names. I’d be interested to see which retailer it was that reported a six-fold increase in sales.
The rest of the email is clever as it talks up the advantages of the Xbox 360 and how it is now the cheapest console of this generation. What Microsoft fails to mention are the limitations inbuilt in the Arcade pack. It may be just $199 but that’s with no ethernet cable, no wireless adapter, no headset, and no hard drive. So it’s all a bit pointless really.
We’ll have to wait until the NPD sales figures for September are released to see if the price cuts have really influenced consumers purchasing decisions, and they are over a month away from being revealed. Meanwhile, we’ll have to rely on Microsoft’s own claims. And of course, Bill gates and co have never lied.
Related:
Entry was posted
on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
under
Read more entries by Dave Parrack.
Stumble It!
Tips N4G
September 11th, 2008
Lol i love the ending, but damn thats a massive flame bait. Wait for the fanboys to bite…
September 11th, 2008
price cuts… price cuts… price cuts…. *twitches uncontrollably*
-Arvis
September 11th, 2008
We will see when the NPD data comes in. But them I am sure they will say ‘oh well it only increased on these specific days’ blah blah
Anywhoos, good for MS if its true. Doesn’t make a difference to me tho, seems like more ‘QUICK BOYZ AND GIRLZZZZ GO GET AN XBOX BECUZ ALL YOUR FRIENDS HAVE THEM!!!!!oneone’ kinda of shit to me.
September 11th, 2008
Could these constant price cuts be an attempt by Microsoft to get rid of stock as they prepare for a new Console?…. The developers of Halo are looking for a new developer as advertised to “help define the next generation of gaming software technology.” Keyword being “Next generation”…. It would make sense right?.
September 11th, 2008
Wow Microsoft and their myth… They just trying to get publicity because Xbox 360 hadst being selling that well especially with all the price cuts. Microsoft will need more profits to make a new console unless they plan on losing more of their billions. This are the companies Microsoft fears most Sony because of PlayStation Google Because everything they make and Apple for MAC OSX and iPod iPhone. Xbox 1 and 2 were both failures for Microsoft especially the first one i don’t believe anything they said about the price cuts helping. If the PS3 had launched with the Xbox 360 it will have sold by now about 26 million consoles.
September 11th, 2008
If you back a rat into a corner, it will bite whatever is sticking out. Let them have their press releases: the proof is in the tasting of the pudding.
September 11th, 2008
Sure I believe Microsoft, and i’ve got a nice bridge for sale…hardly ever been used.
September 11th, 2008
Ha right, and Sony have never lied either…..
September 11th, 2008
uh…dave…
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/17554/August-2008-NPD-Xbox-360-Returns-to-the-Race/
and you thought the price reduction wouldn’t help….. lol..
wait til the holidays..it’s gonna be a bloodbath… the ps3 is in for another lost holiday…
September 11th, 2008
ps3 bioshock to have 10 minute installs, at 5GB?
holy crap… oooo….the fun of sitting thru ANOTHER stupid install just to play the 360’s scraps…
http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/207081/ps3-hard-drives-beware-bioshock-has-mandatory-10-minute-install/
September 11th, 2008
5% difference in sales after a drastic multi-sku price drop doesn’t seem like a killshot to me.
“Coming off the heels of the console price drop last week, Microsoft Xbox 360 sales have surged, with retailers reporting over 100% sales lift for all Xbox 360 models compared to the previous weekend. Additionally, retailers are reporting that between Friday, Sept. 5 and Sunday, Sept. 7, some Xbox 360 models were selling at six times the rate they were the weekend prior.” = Beating the PS3 in the month of august by 5%. Xbots rejoice? Slurp slurp!
It shows how far the xbots have to go, when a 10min/5gb install is a source of constant bitching. Reduced loading times over the course of playing the game will more than make up for the 10mins. I would willingly take a 10min install on every game I buy, if I can reduce load times while playing. I have LOTS of room on my 320 gig PS3.
This vitriol can only be sourced from a player base that needs instant gratification all the time (ADD/ADHD/Whiny). Its embarrassing that this stereotype is often how gamers are portrayed.
September 11th, 2008
hahaha Pachter was WRONG AGAIN!!! God bless you kev!
Jofamang, uhh….the price drop was in September. Wait and see the results this time next month, it doesn’t take an analyst to say that the margin will be even wider.
September 11th, 2008
Yes, one of the best fps’s in recent years is a scrap.
Right.
And we’re STILL bitching like fucking children about installs.
September 11th, 2008
Hmm, my bad, hah.
It appears I lost a week, for some reason I thought last weekend was still August. Disregard rant plars~
September 11th, 2008
Hey where did Ivan go? He’s gone awfully quiet.
September 12th, 2008
i rather get 10 dollars than just 1 lucky one.
September 12th, 2008
Depends who touched the 10 dollar note first….
September 12th, 2008
@ Harry,
I don’t believe anything Sony say either. Statistics can be twisted around to say whatever the writer wants it to say.
I mean for all we know they could have sold a grand total of 4 xboxes this month compared to 2 last month.
They still sell like shit but their not lying about the % increase.
They’re both as bad as each other.
September 12th, 2008
Hey, Kev’s back. Welcome back Kev. You’ll be happy to know that the flame wars have gotten even worse since you left. But don’t worry Ivan is the same old Ivan.
September 12th, 2008
@ Ivan You must be 10 years old.
And the dumbest person alive.
September 12th, 2008
Norm - Correct, he is both.
September 12th, 2008
Hey Kev, how was the vacation?
-Arvis
September 12th, 2008
LMFAO I bet I’m the older here 21 years old. I’m selling my Xbox 360 Premium with a flash stealth firmware with about 100 burned games. To buy a custom made Alienware PC for 9 Thousand dollars. Microsoft can soon drown in debt i don’t care also i don’t give of shit about you haters out there denial.
September 12th, 2008
Oh c’mon, I’m starting to think Ivan is an amazing troll who ‘crafted’ ivan to perfection.
No way anyone could be that dumb. 9 Grand on a ‘custom’ pc, rofl.
21 and still in grade 12 - Crazy Ivan(tm)
Hey Ivan, please email me the details of your 360. Including contact details such as address and telephone number. My email is piracy@microsoft.com.
Thanks!
September 12th, 2008
SW:
Microsoft piracy track down is pure crap. I can buy what ever the fuck i want is my fucking money dumb ass. I’m not in HS idiot fanboy.
SW stop dick riding u useless fanboy i bet u wish u had a ps3 and xbox. take the dick outer of ur mouth.
September 12th, 2008
Who’s side am I on Ivan? Please tell me!
“can buy what ever the fuck i want is my fucking money dumb ass. ”
Where did I say you couldn’t buy whatever you wanted?
I never said you are a fan boy, but you ARE an idiot.
September 12th, 2008
SW:
wHY aRE yOU sTILL tALKING tO mE i dON’T cARE wHAT yOU hAVE tO sAY tO mE. aND tHE iDIOT hERE iS yOU oK._-~
SW:
I’m willing to stop all this childish bullshit if you are ok…
September 12th, 2008
Well I’m glad you’ve finally admitted you’re childish.
Now I am happy.
September 13th, 2008
the one:
You don’t even know what the PC has dumb ass so shut the hell up. And i don’t care it cost a million dollar my family will be paying not me. I have a fucking car already a hot one in black 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport i might change car Cadillac soon if i can convince this people.
SW:
yOU sO cHILDISH i wON’T bOTHER wITH yOU aNYMORE cYA.
September 13th, 2008
Awww SW, you hurt poor Ivan’s feelings.
Ivan, didn’t I see you link a site of yours with all of your PSP games for people to download? Can you please send that link again?
September 13th, 2008
harry sachz:
Yes you did but i only uploaded some of my games. And SW didn’t hurt me i have no feelings, feelings are for bitches.
September 13th, 2008
arvis - hey guys.. no vacation unfortunately. I used to write from work, but i am handling a new project that’s literally eating up my entire day…which truly sucks, but the compensation’s right so i guess i owe them at least SOME work while i’m there…
yeah, this place has gone downhill and why i don’t give these idiots any more site hits than i want to.
between Dave P and Ivan, the collective IQ of this site has been in a downward spiral for some time and it’s just not as fun as it used to be….
have a good one…
September 13th, 2008
kev:
You a useless idiot so don’t even start you a pure dumb ass idiot fanboy.
September 13th, 2008
Ivan, can you please post that link up again?
September 15th, 2008
I am not surprısıng to anything. But thanks..