Xbox 360 hits three – Microsoft claims recession will help sales
The Xbox 360 is now three-years-old, in fact, the Microsoft console is three-years-and-five-days-old now, but what’s five days between friends? It’s had a tumultuous life, with the RRoD dominating its early life, and an ever-present sales battle with the PS3. But how is the Xbox 360 doing on its third birthday, and what does the future hold?
The Microsoft Xbox 360 first went on sale on Nov. 22, 2005 in the United States and Canada. Europe and Japan then got their hands on the console before year’s end. The limited range of launch titles were pretty poor, but the variety and number of games available soon built up to be one of the highest-rated ranges in gaming history.
Fairly early on in the console’s life, the Red Ring of Death reared its ugly head. This general hardware failure due to overheating saw millions of Xbox 360 owners having to send their consoles back to Microsoft for repairs or replacements. But while the problems continue to this day, Microsoft, to its credit, has done all in its power to rectify the problem.
To the present day, where the Xbox 360 currently sits in second place for overall hardware sales, being roundly beaten by the Wii but still kicking dirt in the PS3’s face. A recent price cut has rejuvenated sales considerably, and alongside Microsoft’s obvious desire to turn the Xbox 360 from a hardcore console to a machine for all, means the future looks bright.
The Xbox 360 has now overtaken the installed user base of the original Xbox. The all-important 25 million consoles sold worldwide mark was hit earlier this month, meaning whatever happens from here on in, Microsoft is improving with each generation in terms of sales.
But with the credit crunch and worldwide economic slowdown affecting what people are willing to spend their money on, how well with the Xbox 360 do from here to the end of its life? The games industry seems to pretty recession-proof so far but depending on how deep the depression gets, this may not always remain the case.
However, according to Eurogamer, Microsoft thinks the recession could actually help the Xbox 360 sell in greater numbers this holiday season. UK Xbox boss Neil Thompson explained:
Our trend research shows that families are looking for gifts that keep on giving throughout the year.
At an entry-level ERP of GBP 129.99, Xbox 360 offers an amazing experience for the whole family, so with the constant rise in other entertainment based activities such as going to the cinema, concerts and football games, it’s clear Xbox 360 offers great entertainment value for families.
And 1,000 surveyed British people agree, although not naming the Xbox 360 specifically. 75 percent of those questioned expressed a desire for a long-lasting present, while half wanted to find “an extra-special present ” that “brings families together. If that’s not the definition of a games console, then I don’t know what is.
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21 Responses to “Xbox 360 hits three – Microsoft claims recession will help sales”
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November 27th, 2008
The recession will indeed help the 360. It’s much cheaper than the only other HD gaming console for starters. It runs multiplatformers better than the more expensive system and has it’s own kickass exclusives. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
November 28th, 2008
As long as they realize that the arcade is a shitty sku… and buy the pro/premium/’whatever ms wants to name it to make it sound better’.
I’m going to make a console called the the xfactor box premium luxery deluxe 720.360 to the infinite power. Beat that Bill…
Sony really does need to drop the price a smidge if they want to sell more, or at the very least bundle a bunch of C grade games to create the illusion of value or something
November 28th, 2008
problem is… the arcade sku is NOT worth it for people like you and me… we cant fully utilise the NXE (by installing games)… no downloadable games…
In the several podcasts Ive heard people complain bout the red ring… then they say that after going through several boxes… they would probably buy the arcade bundle… thats something… for me… its Elite all the way…
November 28th, 2008
“75 percent of those questioned expressed a desire for a long-lasting present”
Now we know for sure they’re not talking about the 360!!!! RROD……
@DWH. Xbox fanboys count on retards (like themselves) to purchase to archade sku to drive their numbers up. You also already pointed out, it’s a cheap “replacement” console when the 3 year warranty is up (MS definitely figured out a way to take lemons and make lemonade there!!!!).
I still think the 80GB PS3 with the $150 Sony style credit is the best deal out there right now. In fact no one can argue that it’s not. It’s
$50 cheaper than the 360 $299 “pro holiday bundle 60GB” with…..lmao….Kung Fu Panda and Lego Indy.
In fact, if you took that Sony style card right now to amazon, you could pick up the 80gb with resistance 2 and component cables all for $250.
@harry. which would you rather have…R2 or Lego Indy and Kung Fu Panda.
November 28th, 2008
phranctoast, obviously R2, however with the savings from buying a 360 I would get GoW2, which has a better Metacritic score than R2, therefore is a better game according to the critics. Flame on!!
So buying a 360 which already comes with 2 games, plus GoW2 (more acclaimed than R2) still ends up being much cheaper and more bang for your buck than a PS3 with one game.
Let’s not talk about signing up for a new credit card in order to get a discount. The economy is in bad enough shape without adding more to the credit crisis.
November 28th, 2008
(Excus my poor english )
you know guys I have been a reader in here for a while, and really enjoyed reading your comments.
alot of you make good points, but when most of you says Xbox 360 is cheaper or have the better deal. I went to calculate how much does the xbox 360 would cost.
and here is my result :
PS3 169 GB uncharted bundle $499.99
Extar DualShock 3 $54.99
PS3 bluetooth Headset $49.99
Total : $605
the PS3 also a BD player, support 1080P
——————————————-
Xbox 360 Elite Console 120GB with Kung Fu Panda and LEGO Indiana Jones $399.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter $99.99
Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack $14.99
Xbox Live 12-Month Gold Renewal $49.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller and Play & Charge Kit $64.99
total : $630
——————
Microsoft – Xbox 360 Arcade $199.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter $99.99
Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack $14.99
Xbox Live 12-Month Gold Renewal $49.99
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller and Play & Charge Kit $64.99
Microsoft Xbox 360 Hard Drive (120GB) $149.99
total : $580
support 1080i
———————————————–
Now honestly what does have a better valeu in here ??
I’m just trying to be a bit relistic instead of taking MS BS
most people would say xbox360 cheaper, sure its cheaper.
but if you look at what it actually offer as a Home entartenment you would see PS3 have a better deal.
November 28th, 2008
why my comment didn’t show up ?? does it take long for it to show up in here ?
November 28th, 2008
the Pro bundle is VERY good… specially on christmas season… also their ad for the Pro bundle is very good…
look at it this way… if people like you and me are going to buy a 360… we’d want to get the Elite… if casual gamers or first timers… or even moms who want to buy their kids a console see the add… that kung fu panda and lego indy looks VERY VERY good…
its a good ad campaign… cus I think the PS3 ads are towards gamers like you and me… whereas the 360 ads interest me and the casual folks…
also right of the bat they say “over 200 exclusive games”… thats a nice sound bite…
November 29th, 2008
You also need to keep in mind that yes adding up all the extras will make it comparable but Microsoft gives you the option of getting the options that you may need. Instead of doing the Super Console Idea that Sony has and driving the cost way up and hurting themselves in the process and creating the most expensive console in history, Microsoft decided to let people decide what they need. Because everything packed in a PS3 is not need by everyone. What’s even worse is that the most important component of the PS3 was taken out and I’m talking about Backwards Compatibility. That’s because in the beginging they forgot they were making a “Gaming Console” and pushed it as a Bluray Player instead. Rememer Sony looses large on every purchase of a PS3 Microsoft doesn’t which alows Microsoft to do more for it’s consumer because their always throwing some kind of goodies or securing some title or paying for DLC that becomes exclusive to the 360. The bottom line is the offerings are much better over here in 360 land.
November 29th, 2008
I aslo wanted to add that the new community games are going to add so much depth to the 360 that you won’t find on any other console and there is about 50 new games so far and the new NXE with the Avtars is pretty cool.
November 29th, 2008
umm… sigh… CAD… how many times do I have to tell you… I dont give a shit if Sony loses or earns a billion dollars… their profits dont make me happy…
getting a blu ray player on the cheap… or a console with the games I love… THAT makes me happy…
so play with you console… bitch about the PS3 on LIVE… dont expect me to shed a tear if Sony loses their “MOST PROFITABLE COMPANY OF THE YEAR” award…
jeez…
November 29th, 2008
@ CAD
yes you are right, sony stuffed all this things into the PS3, But lets just be honest with ourselives for a momment in here. you want to tell me you are not going to buy another controller, Live 12-Month Gold Renewal, or you gonna keep your console in your living room with the internet wire. Most of this things are a must have.
and I”m sure if at least 70% if not 90% of people who buy the console would buy this things as well.
All what sony did is saved you the time, Money, and added it all together, which at least for me make sense more.
November 29th, 2008
ms is, once again, right…and the ps3 fanboys just can’t handle the truth.
look, the REALITY is that the wii is THE #1 console on the market. This PROVES three things:
1. price matters (as their game library is much smaller than the competitors)
2. online gaming/features is NOT a main consideration of a consumer
3. Hi def gaming has not sold the masses.
with these knowns in place, all the bells and whistles added to the 360’s arcade by the ps3 fanboys is moot.
they refuse to acknowledge that the bells and whistles that sony is forcing on consumers is needless overkill when all they want is an affordable, fun, gaming medium.
however, sony’s plan of sneaking bluray into homes on the backs of overpriced “cell” technology (a networking architecture and not built for gaming thus the developer complaints) only bit them in the end and cost them the vast majority of their ps2 userbase. greed is an ugly thing.
sony and their fanboys have forgotten one fundamental law; when given a choice, a consumer will choose have options.
sony simply didn’t give them many.
it doesn’t matter if their arcade is “gimped” by you guys. the hardcore doesn’t sustain the market, the casual gamer does. casual gamers love a bargain….
November 29th, 2008
handsome devil – cable isp typically have their outlets near their cable outlets…in the living room with the tv and console. most of us are too old to be still playing in our bedrooms.
sony stuffed things in there that 99% of the tv market can’t take advantage of. 1080p is still very new and very expensive. your percentage “estimates” are funny..
November 29th, 2008
DWH I was not talking to ypu
November 29th, 2008
Kev is right. My cable and my internet come into the living room. Wi-Fi extends it to the rest of the house. Anyone who does not have that setup is pretty foolish because almost everything being made now has a ethernet connection. Your DVD/Bluray players, Gaming consoles, Some TV’s. The need to buy a desktop computer is disappearing because Laptops can do it all and it’s portable in the home. The connection speed alone on a Hard wire is by far better then relying on a wireless connection for online gaming. But comparing LIVE to PSN is a joke. Anyone who has both will always tell you LIVE is better. It’s a higher standard and worth $50 per year and anyone complaining about that is just cheap. Plus the 360 also comes pack with a headest so everyone on LIVE can communicate.
November 30th, 2008
My house has ethernet ports in every room. I did not need to buy any sort of wireless adapter. And even if it didn’t, I would get it installed, as wireless is unreliable, and the last thing I would like would be to drop my connection half way through a game.
November 30th, 2008
Wow Harry that is amazing that you have an ethernet port in every room but the Wi-Fi in my house is primarily for the laptap because the High Speed Cable comes into my living room and everything else pretty much has a hard wire attached that needs it. No Lagging online for me.
December 1st, 2008
They could drop the price down to $50 and I would still be hesitant about buying one. I will not knowingly buy electronics that are prone to failure. It seems like in these tough economic times people should be looking for VALUE and not who cheap something is. Having to fork out more money for an Official Xbot hard drive and having to pay just to be able to play your games online also seems like throwing money away.
December 2nd, 2008
barnabe – i know how you feel. after 3 ps2’s failed due to dre and dde error messages, i vowed never to buy another sony console.
thankfully so. i bought a LOT of 360 games for $600 sony was charging for the ps3.
i also know how you feel about spending on addons. this is why i didn’t go with the ps3. a “1080p” console should have hdmi cables included, but they don’t…nor does it have a communicator for playing online.
spending $600 for the ps3 THEN spending ANOTHER $150 just to use the features is prolly why me and most others are ignoring the ps3.
just too costly in the long run….
December 2nd, 2008
..and it begins….
http://www.pcworld.com/article/154778/microsoft_xbox_360_routs_ps3_in_record_black_friday_sales.html
once again, sony is set to be in last place in sales again in the largest market… not good…..
oh well…they did it to themselves….