A global total of 56 percent of Xbox Live users have purchased a Gold membership of the online service -- 60 percent in the U.S., according to Microsoft documents dating from before the launch of the New Xbox Experience last year.
Chris Lewis, VP for Microsoft's Inetractive Entertainment Business in teh EMEA region, has told GamesIndustry.biz that he's very clear on exactly who has teh console lead between Sony and Microsoft in Europe- and he says that the third party numbers prove it.
January 2009 saw the most members join LIVE than in any previous month since the service launched in November 2002. Currently more than 17–million people are now connected over LIVE. In addition, the January NPD numbers also reveal that Xbox 360 sales were up 33 % from last year.
Sounds like it is now the consensus that the Xbox 360 can sell 60 million units. I remember shorting this back in 40 million units and thinking the numbers were wildly optimistic. These console stocks have really grown.
I doubt that this year or next will be the "last season sale" of the Xbox 360. I agree with the deftangel's 2 reasons for the early death to the original Xbox.
Additionally, people really aren't expecting a new system to completely replace the 360 yet (evident from the article welshbloke posted on fewer xbox 360 users want upgrade). Sales don't peak in a cycle until there is strong anticipation that a new console is coming out and people hold off to buy the new one...and I really don't think that will happen this year. When the Xbox peaked by year 4, MSFT was already rumbling about next-generation machines. This time both MSFT and SNE have been have been saying they don't plan on rolling out next-gen for a while.
I agree, For this has been apparent for a long time now. The 360 will exceed 40 million by the end of this year (2009) and I see no reason to believe that that figure will not be higher.
The only fly in the ointment is Sony but I think Microsoft have demonstrated that they will not be playing second fiddle and will put up fight. The Wii has its part to play either in helping 360 sales or denting them but overall I think it will benefit both HD consoles.
Last year I would of put a lifetime sale of 60 million now personally I think they have it all to play for and see no reason why they cannot be selling 70+ as a lifetime sale (optimistic end of the scale).
As I have said before you have to believe the 360 will still be in stores in 2012 and I do, if you still believe that the 360 will be having its last season sale 2009/10 then obviously you will have a different take.
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