Xbox 360 outsells the original Xbox, Microsoft heads down to the trophy shop

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]

[jon @ Nov 25th 2008 11:48AM]

Woohoo! So pretty much all of the 25 million orginal xbox owners have upgraded? Dang that is still alot of units.

[ScooterDe @ Nov 25th 2008 2:49PM]

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.

[WixosTrix @ Nov 25th 2008 6:14PM]

@ ScooterDe

wasnt it announced months ago that they have been making profits from the division?

[Daza @ Nov 26th 2008 5:01AM]

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).

[Static @ Nov 26th 2008 8:54AM]

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.

[totoro @ Nov 26th 2008 12:56PM]

@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.

[Billy @ Nov 25th 2008 11:49AM]

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.

[michael @ Nov 25th 2008 11:52AM]

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....

[Flashpoint @ Nov 25th 2008 12:25PM]

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.

[rlynd3 @ Nov 25th 2008 1:21PM]

@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 ;)

[donkamero @ Nov 25th 2008 2:08PM]

@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.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Nov 25th 2008 2:29PM]

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.

[mos @ Nov 25th 2008 3:00PM]

The real question is when will x.360 outsold PS2?
(I think that PS2 outsells all gaming competitors?)

[Andie @ Nov 25th 2008 5:02PM]

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.

[donkamero @ Nov 26th 2008 1:31PM]

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.

[waiownsyou @ Nov 25th 2008 11:49AM]

Does each owner having like 20 XBOX360s because of the RROD or those that have to buy a second unit go into the count?

[Ethan @ Nov 25th 2008 11:58AM]

outsold, the operative word being sold. Every manufacturer will try to bend statistics, but not outright lie.

[Zelatio @ Nov 25th 2008 12:34PM]

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.

[John P @ Nov 25th 2008 12:42PM]

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.

[Shadow08 @ Nov 25th 2008 1:05PM]

What about the PS2? You think that didn't contribute to Sony's massive 140 million units sold?

[macserv @ Nov 25th 2008 5:51PM]

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.

[tendonut @ Nov 26th 2008 8:07AM]

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.

[ericdano @ Nov 25th 2008 11:51AM]

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.

[Tony @ Nov 25th 2008 12:04PM]

[citation needed]

[Slick @ Nov 25th 2008 11:52AM]

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!

[Aaron @ Nov 25th 2008 11:53AM]

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.

[drsnacks @ Nov 25th 2008 12:40PM]

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).

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 25th 2008 11:53AM]

Congrats. Happy to be a proud part of it. :)

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 25th 2008 11:55AM]

That's what she sa...

Oh, never mind.

[chipotlehero @ Nov 25th 2008 11:59AM]

Dude, you can't set yourself up for that's what she said jokes, even if they are terrible.

[AVG @ Nov 25th 2008 12:11PM]

@chipotlehero

Michael Scott would disagree.

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 25th 2008 1:43PM]

Wow!

[Abuzar Baloach @ Nov 25th 2008 3:49PM]

They really don't like you around here, do they?

Also, total waste of That's what she said joke.

[bert @ Nov 25th 2008 11:58AM]

did anyone else experience a subliminal feeling of accomplishment when they saw the achievement unlocked graphic?

[r3loaded @ Nov 25th 2008 12:21PM]

Yep, I half expected the Xbox logo to alternately flash with a little trophy. Microsoft gets millions of dollars added to their Gamerscore!

[Alan Strangis @ Nov 25th 2008 12:22PM]

I even heard the Achievement Unlocked popup. :D

[VampireHunter Z @ Nov 25th 2008 12:22PM]

Dude, you just revealed that you are an achievement wh0re.

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 25th 2008 12:36PM]

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.

[7on @ Nov 25th 2008 1:39PM]

Trophies yo!

[bob sakamano @ Nov 25th 2008 11:58AM]

is there any word on the next xbox from microsoft? rumors?

[Oscarv77 @ Nov 25th 2008 12:01PM]

Yeah, it'll be a big ass table

[Samboini @ Nov 25th 2008 3:05PM]

Why do tables need asses? :(

[Kali4 @ Nov 25th 2008 3:16PM]

Same reason monkeys need three asses.

[rock99rock @ Nov 25th 2008 4:42PM]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1C1GGLS_en-USUS299&q=xbox+720&btnG=Search

[iEye @ Nov 25th 2008 11:59AM]

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!

[iEye @ Nov 25th 2008 12:12PM]

my bad "Infernal" game engine

[Down @ Nov 25th 2008 12:26PM]

I bet if Apple made a video game console, you'd care about video games and its systems.

[Angus Hedger @ Nov 25th 2008 1:00PM]

iEye, Achievement Unlocked: "Not hating on everything non apple"

[maveric101 @ Nov 25th 2008 4:20PM]

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).

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 25th 2008 12:03PM]

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.