Xbox 360 outsells the original Xbox, Microsoft heads down to the trophy shop
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Nov 25th 2008 11:42AM
posted Nov 25th 2008 11:42AM
In the manner of a modern day fable on par with The Little Engine That Could or Rocky, Microsoft has just announced that sales of the Xbox 360 have outraced total sales of the original Xbox, a mere two days after the 360's third birthday on November 22. Do you feel yourself getting teary-eyed? Sure, the gang in Redmond could have stopped believing, or reaching for that rainbow (or whichever tired cliché you prefer), but it looks like all the hard work has paid off -- Microsoft has won a race with itself, and in doing so has given us all hope. To put this in perspective, a total of 25 million original Xboxes were sold during its lifecycle of November 2001 - May, 2005 (roughly three and a half years). The company has yet to release precise sales figures for the 360, but between price cuts in Europe, Black Friday, and the New Xbox Experience, they expect to ride out the tail end of this year with a huge sales boost. Great job, guys! We knew that some day your company would be a success.
[Via Joystiq]
[Via Joystiq]
Woohoo! So pretty much all of the 25 million orginal xbox owners have upgraded? Dang that is still alot of units.
I have to wonder if they are making a profit yet. If not, the race is not worth winning and the next generation could be further away.
@ ScooterDe
wasnt it announced months ago that they have been making profits from the division?
I think it was announced that they were turning a profit in their entertainment/games division, however no one was sure if they had accounted for written off losses in previous years. We will likely never know the 'break even' point as it's pretty hard to calculate. Maybe in the next few years they'll really start to see big profits as manufacturing costs keep coming down, but then again, so do retail prices...
Regardless, congratulations to Microsoft - they deserve it. Apart from the bungle with the RROD they've done very well for themselves, they did well with the original Xbox and it's good to see they had the same success again.
It does make us think about next-generation, but with the amount of resources put into the 360, maybe the next-gen will be a few more years away. I'm anticipating it will be the 'next-generation' version of the PS2, in the sense that it has a very long usable life (talking about playability, not reliability here).
FTFA:"Microsoft has just announced that sales of the Xbox 360 have outraced total sales of the original Xbox, a mere two days after the 360's third birthday on November 22." and then "To put this in perspective, a total of 25 million original Xboxes were sold during its lifecycle of November 2001 - May, 2005 (roughly three and a half years)."
that means
3 and a half years for the xbox to reach 25 million
3 years for the 360 to reach 25 million.
I don't understand the celebration. This is like them winning back their original base. Not only that
(halo 2 sold 8 million to an install base of 24 million)
(halo 3 sold 8 million to an install base of 17 million)
You woulda have thought that this would have happened sooner.
@Static,
I agree. The original Xbox was considered a disappointment sales-wise/pace-wise.
I guess the difference is the 360 has more momentum going forward, so thats a positive. But I'm sure MS would have liked to have surpassed the original Xbox much earlier.
Honestly I'm surprised it took so long. I knew exactly zero people with an Xbox, but damn near 100% of my friends have a 360.
I agree, I didn't have an Xbox and none of my buddies did either yet we have all jumped ship from PS2 to XBOX360 so I would have expected this to have happened some time ago....
I bought an original Xbox as basically a gamble between XBOX and PS2 years ago.
I was thoroughly impressed by what it had to offer and it gave me a long time of enjoyment.
Xbox360 is the best system of the 7th generation console wars. Wii doesn't even measure up to be in this console war and PS3 is mostly a letdown.
@Flash,
You had me until you decided to drag the Wii and PS3 into this... For the record the Wii is too in this race but for different reasons. To knock it down for graphics is silly the Wii is largely responsible for expanding the market and making gaming that much more main stream. Do i still wish it did more -- HELL YA!
In other news --- Congrats 360, I may just put down my original S controller and go pick you up this holiday season. You are right around my price point now ;)
@rlynd3
He didn't actually say anything about the Wii's graphic's though, did he? He could have based his opinion on the Wii on many factors for all you know.
For me the Xbox360 is the console of this generation for 'serious' (may read overly addicted, me included lol) gamers, the Wii for "casual" gamers and the PS3 for people who like HD movies. Now I have nothing against the PS3 or the Wii (I have both also) but I have hardly ever played the Wii (my mum plays that more than I do) since I got it, the games just don't appeal to me, I'm looking for a different experience. Much the same with the PS3, any game that comes out on both the PS3 and the 360, I buy it for the 360, mostly because I'll be more integrated with my friends for the purpose of playing with them online, but I generally get a better feel of that system.
We have 4 360s in my house, Myself and my two younger brothers and my Mum (way too addicted to COD and Tomb Raider lol) also has one.
Anyway, I don't think you should jump to conclusions on why the Wii doesn't measure up for him, as it doesn't for me either and it has nothing to do with graphics. It's just not the kind of gamea I play. Though I do have a soft spot for Mario Kart lol.
I agree with the OP (Billy).
First, I'm surprised to learn the 360 has been out for 3 years, seems more like 2. While I'm impressed that it beat the original's sales numbers, apparently it did so in 6/7ths the time (3 years instead of 3.5). I'd expect the 360 would have beat the original more quickly because, while the original was a great success, my impression has always been that the 360 was a massively better seller. I'm one of the many people I know who has a 360 but never bought the original.
In any event, it's a shame about the RROD debacle, because the 360's a great platform. I use it all the time for streaming movies from a Mac, and the NXE + Netflix integration is awesome.
The real question is when will x.360 outsold PS2?
(I think that PS2 outsells all gaming competitors?)
I was also surprised until I remembered purchasing around ten original Xboxes when they were selling for 69-99 euros. Mainly for relatives who hadn't been into gaming (yea, that's me, gifting clueless relatives soon-to-be-obsolete hardware) and for a few projects of my own. Some institutions like childrens hospitals also bought or were gifted loads of Xbox1s around the same time. I imagine they still mostly have them, in addition to the PS2s and relative newcomer Wiis (because of their massive appeal to the lil' ones). The 360 hasn't quite reached that stage of its life span yet.
Some people's reasoning for low ranking on here is quite silly. "Hey wait, I disagree with that guy, lets low rank him". That isn't the way it works, my comment was well thought out and is my opinion, there should be no reason for anyone to low rank that. If I come on and say "teh 360 is teh best and all else suckz", then please, low rank me. But to low rank someone because they have a different opinion than you is, quite frankly, pathetic, and verging on discrimanatory.
Does each owner having like 20 XBOX360s because of the RROD or those that have to buy a second unit go into the count?
outsold, the operative word being sold. Every manufacturer will try to bend statistics, but not outright lie.
Ethan-
Uhhh, are you kiddin? This is Micro$haft, of course they are going to lie their asses off when it comes to this kind of thing.
Every company wants positive sales outlooks, especially in this economic climate. So to think that Microsoft is the only one trying to use statistics to their advantage is naive at best.
What about the PS2? You think that didn't contribute to Sony's massive 140 million units sold?
Yes, Microsoft counts replacements as consoles sold. No, they are not the only one who does so... both Sony and Nintendo count replacements as units sold.
If you remember, the system warranty was extended to 3 years because of the RROD issue, so if you know someone who went out and bought a new 360 because their old one RROD'ed, then they are just tools. Repair/replacement systems aren't "sales", so they wouldn't count towards the sales numbers. The ONLY people who would ever have to buy a new system after an RROD would be those who bought it on launch because their warranty expired last Saturday (and chances are, they've already gotten their replacement)
Don't try to downplay this. Either way you look at it, the 360 is doing amazing.
Of course, in typical Microsoft fashion, they are also counting the replaces for Ring of Deaths as sales, as well as any units already shipped to dealers.
[citation needed]
Not to sounds like a hater, but I want to know the number of failed 360's vs. the number of failed xbox originals.
But good for you xbox team, congratulations!
Congrats, Microsoft. I must admit I was very sceptical when you announced the original Xbox. Whoever, you've made a very good contribution to the console market and really kept Sony on their toes.
I'm one customer who will be pre-ordering your next console as soon as I possibly can.
Plus, its serves as a drain for the unfortunate demo that the PS1 attracted to gaming in the olden days. Back then, Nintendo was the only option, and they were to busy holding up the "family" market. Now we have a perfectly segmented market with a man-child system, a family/casual gamer system, and a genuinely mature gamer system (that is if Sony wises up and runs with that).
Congrats. Happy to be a proud part of it. :)
That's what she sa...
Oh, never mind.
Dude, you can't set yourself up for that's what she said jokes, even if they are terrible.
@chipotlehero
Michael Scott would disagree.
Wow!
They really don't like you around here, do they?
Also, total waste of That's what she said joke.
did anyone else experience a subliminal feeling of accomplishment when they saw the achievement unlocked graphic?
Yep, I half expected the Xbox logo to alternately flash with a little trophy. Microsoft gets millions of dollars added to their Gamerscore!
I even heard the Achievement Unlocked popup. :D
Dude, you just revealed that you are an achievement wh0re.
Vampire, achievements are more addicting than the crack your mother was smoking when she was pregnant with you. They have revolutionized games and re-play value of games. It is 100% more difficult for me to just 'leave a game' half-way through beating it now, when there is actually more incentive for finishing it.
Trophies yo!
is there any word on the next xbox from microsoft? rumors?
Yeah, it'll be a big ass table
Why do tables need asses? :(
Same reason monkeys need three asses.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1C1GGLS_en-USUS299&q=xbox+720&btnG=Search
I really don't care about video game systems, but it is nice to hear business is good, anything to help the economy...
I just can't wait to see how the Ghostbusters Game in 2009 will look on X-box Vs PS3 running that new "destroy everything in sight" Velocity game engine...
GHOSTBUSTERS!
my bad "Infernal" game engine
I bet if Apple made a video game console, you'd care about video games and its systems.
iEye, Achievement Unlocked: "Not hating on everything non apple"
so iEye makes a post having nothing to do with apple, and yet you bring apple up and make fun of him. you're like the people who start mac vs pc flame wars in posts having nothing to do with either. iEye is making progress towards being a real contributor to the site (unlike that new "Fusion Fuzo" guy, holy shit, what an ass).
I jumped from the PS2 to the xbox 360 after getting fed up waiting for the PS3. I bought an arcade the traded that in for the elite and have never looked back or regretted it. Also I have never had a problem or any RROD and looked forward to buying the next Xbox and even with problems they've had they still out do the PS3. All in all pretty damn impressive. You simply can't deny how good the xbox is. Also gotta wonder what people are doing to their 360 because I'v never had a problem and neither has anyone I Know.
Only a small niggle is the bad value for money xbox live. They need to do some thing and stop ripping us off. It really is bad and add some features or something.
Last para was for uk
Wow, I wouldn't say Xbox live was a rip off, it's a solid gaming service and isn't too expensive.
£40 (in the UK) for a year, that works out at less than a pound a week to T bag your adversaries on COD4 and GoW2.
If you don't want to game online just get a FREE silver membership for movie/game download etc.
oh I also had a video blow-out with my first console after 1 month of hardcore 1080p use, wasn't a prob though as Gamestation swapped my harddrive into a new console and dealt with the rest.
Good to hear it's doing well as it blows PS3 out of the water IMO.
If you shop around online, you can find 13 months of Xbox Live Gold for £26.
£2 a month is expensive compared to the opposition (i.e. free) but you're getting easily the best online experience possible on a console.
If the 360 could be hacked to use XBMC and let me play any HD content I would have purchased 3 of them like I did with original xbox (which I still use as a media center).
I actually got an Xbox 1 jumping ship from Nintendo (had already bought a Gamecube and was disappointed). Halo 1 surprised the hell out of me. It was one of those long lasting gaming memories for me, up there with games like Mario, Mario 3, Donkey Kong Country, Goldeneye 64, etc.
I've been an Xbox fan since. I do also have a PS3 and a Wii, but the Xbox 360 easily gets my vote for best GAME console.
ah YEEEAAAH!
I did the same, was a long time GoldenEye and Perfect Dark (N64) fan, and Halo provided me with my next love
Yeah, Perfect Dark 64 was another one. The "combat simulator" was the most extensive offline multiplayer setup I had ever seen. You could add like 8 bots, each with a different personality and difficulty. I remember putting in the expansion pack to play in highres. It got so hot, we had to put and icepack on it or it would lock up. lol..
I'm actually really surprised considering the modibility of both machines. The original xbox owns re: this area. There will always be a place in my entertainment center for it!
Congratulations!
It's all that return business. I don't know anyone that's managed to get away with buying only a single 360 on account of how frequently they RROD.
How do you do Veraxus? My name is Kali4. It's nice to meet you. Oh, by the way; I only bought one (1) Xbox 360. Yes, it got the RROD. It was replaced for free.
@ Veraxus. My Xbox was RROD and was replaced for free as well. They even threw in two months of Xbox Live for compensation. I'll never complain about all I've got back from the Xbox and Live experience. It was a value when it was twice the price. Congrats Xbox team...
Hello Veraxus. I have only bought only one Xbox 360. It is 3 years old now. Still running just fine thank you.
Why hello there my xbox did not RROD is simply go bricked by the fall update last year, Costco gave me a new one for free that had an HDMI port on the back and gave me back my old HDD. I recently bought a 37" 1080P monitor for my PC it happened to have an HDMI port. Left 4 Dead is the most fun 3 friends can have right now.
I bet I helped a bit. I just bought one yesterday. ;)
im surprised it took this long. Almost everyone I know has a 360
[ot]Love your avatar, man! ;)[/ot]
Ye, It is a nice variation on the CS3 icon. What does Vs stand for exactly? My initial thought was visual studio.
@Skyride
my wildest of the wildest guesses would be "vdogg89".
Hey, does the 360 have any big upcoming exclusives next year? I'm not sure If I should buy it this late into race. Gears of War 2 almost made me buy it, but I was held back by LBP.
http://www.letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=2009+Xbox+360+exclusives
Why not? At this point they're practically giving them away.
I hear PS3 is getting close to selling as many units as PS2 did also.
i find that hard to believe... sony still sells a lot of PS2's.
isnt it still a top5 console in sales?
im pretty sure guitar hero and rock bad are the only thing selling ps2 now sense there not available for xbox original. and not every one can poney up for the pro system who the fuck would buy an arcade? ill take backward compatibility any day.
@ matthew,
that's highly improbable as the PS2 is probably* still outselling the PS3, making catch-up exponentially difficult.
@john,
Rock Band and GH are probably good reasons, but it's also that PS2 is so damn cheap. it's probably selling like hotcakes in developing countries where people can't afford or justify the purchase of a PS3.
I wish all my friends weren't poor asses. Only one of them have a 360.
M$ may be the big evil corporation in a lot of ways, but I gotta give 'em big props on this one. The 360 is hands-down the best console ever made, and an extremely good value. Sure the RROD issue was inexcusable, but they took care of it at a huge expense to themselves. And they are doing things to continue the goodwill, such as releasing NXE, and that was WELL above the call. NXE rocks, and it's almost like having a new console, for free. Avatars, parties, Netflix streaming... nicely done! And the available games... amazing!
I feel well taken care of by Microsoft on this purchase.
When you are the underdog in a business...you need to go above and beyond the veterans to prove your self.
@Nomi Or pump yourself up by selling alot of cheap consoles that don't appeal to anyone who buys games. Theres a reason most Xbox users have a pile of 360 games and a random amount of points they've spent on arcade titles and why Wii Sports is still the most played Wii title and often the only one owned. Basically if nintendo didn't overclock the Gamecube to basically remove development costs and ensure they were making a profit on the hardware they'd be in Sony's boat without Blu-Ray sales. Most 'casual' gamers don't even know that other Wii games exist. Wii boxing anyone?
What is XBOX360?
no comment
http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=xbox+360&form=QBRE
Microsoft really has done well in this segment. They remain solidly in the top 10 of console sales. They remain among the top 50% in customer satisfaction and I think most outside observers would consider them one of the top 10,000 companies in innovation! Congratulations Microsoft! You deserve it!
i agree. i'm def a satisfied customer, whose gladly willing to pay $50/yr (see: relatively nothing) for XBL and deal with RROD's. yes, i've only had 1 RROD in the past two years, and MS turned it around in no time. otherwise, the "experience" (no pun intended) is amazing.
I think it's good that the pun wasn't intended, because if it were you didn't succeed ;)
This is good news, didn't Microsoft say that if the 360 wasn't successful (as in made them money) they were getting out of the console race.
25 million doesn't win you a console race. Outselling a console that lost you a few billion dollars doesn't mean much as well.
Microsoft can't pat itself on the back until the Xbox brand turns an overall profit. Something it is still far from doing. The RRoD debacle put Microsoft in the hole for the entire 360 lifecycle. Microsoft will need the 720 or 1080 or XBOX built like a tank to put the division in the black.
At this point in the original Xbox's life it was being called a failure and the 360 was getting ready to launch. If Microsoft hopes to give the 360 the kind of life it needs to even come close to the PS2 they need to hold off the next XBOX for at least 4 more years.
Im sorry, but it wasn't hard to outsell the original xbox, that much is very true. But, congrats Micosoft, you have discovered something we like to call profit! Yippee!
I bought my 360 completely on impulse. I walked into a game shop, watched a video of G.R.A.W, and was immediately £330 out of pocket - the explosions :bowdown:
For the record I didn't get the RRoD until August 2008 - 2 years and 5 months after buying it.
I bought my 360 around the same time, still no RROD yet, but it is loud as hell
Wonder how many of those "sales" where the
same people re-purchasing a new box to replace
a defective one. I've bought 2 so far, and now the
Second one is red ringed already after six months.
Just saying those numbers aren't telling the real
Truth.
"Microsoft has won a race with itself"—Hilarious!
"We knew that some day your company would be a success."—Actually, Microsoft is a successful company and has been for the past 20-something years. They just make really crashy, sorry, crappy OS.
25 million less 30% failure replacements, yes I own one and luv it. But there are lies, damn lies and statistical production counts. If I wasn't a 360 fan, it would have been higher than 30%.
360 will never outsell the ps2 ever because the only people who play 360 are Americans....They have the majority of there sales from the US and get no love around the world...If you like shooting people all damn day 360 is a great system for you if you like other types of games you wont find any good ones on 360 so your either a shooter or the 360 is a waste for you...ONly time i boot my 360 up is for GEARS OF WAR 2 other than that it stays off and ps3 gets the love in my house...Let alone they rip us off for this xbox live BS...i already pay for highspeed what a rip off
Very disappointing.....This is why they stop the oringinal xbox. >:( they should have kept on going if they ever ported halo 3 on the xbox 1 which is possible.Xbox handle halflife 2 like a charm so it could handle many 360 games but they deny.All of us should buy a xbox 1 and try to bring back the glory days even though i have a ps3 and a 360 the xbox 1 in my opinion is the best console. This console was out for 4 years and it started to end lets bring it back