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Microsoft reported their earnings today and one of the things they discussed were the number of Xbox 360′s that they’ve sold. While it hasn’t been a secret that this has been one of the hottest toys out there this year, I was still actually surprised to see that they had managed to sell 5 million boxes to date with 1.8 million of them coming from the last quarter.
This is such a huge improvement over their original Xbox sales when they were forced to play catch up with the Playstation. For a long time, Sony has dominated the console industry and Microsoft’s gamble into gaming hasn’t always been well received. With a one year head start against Sony though, I believe that they’ve now built a lead that Sony can’t surpass. Between the extremely high pricing on the PS3 and the year long head start, Microsoft may finally have the momentum that they need to crack one of Sony’s most important footholds in the consumer electronic’s industry.
I’ve owned an Xbox 360 pretty much since the launch and while I’ve been disappointed with the lack of selection when it comes to games, as well as some of the networking functionality, I’ve been very pleased with the gameplay and graphics that I’ve seen. So far my favorite game has been Hitman: Blood Money, which should have been rated for adults, but squeeked by with a mature rating. Nothing like coming home from a hard day at the office to take out the garbage man, steal his uniform and murder the neighbors, and people thought Grand Theft Auto was naughty . . .
#1 by alldgtl on July 21, 2006 - 5:07 pm
I am not sure if you are aware that your heading is not at all accurate. the fact that you say “Microsoft is killing Sony in the console war”, means that you are not aware of the industry or market of home game consoles. To date Sony has sold over 200 million units of PS1 and PS2s. Microsoft has sold about 30 million units of Xbox and Xbox 360. The usual excuse a Gate lover usually uses is that Sony has had more time to sell their units. So lets take last months sale of Xbox 360 which was 277,000 and the PS2 sold a messily 311 plus units. Oh, wait, that is more than Microsoft (Info is from an article on the Red Herring website. Hmmm, I will let you ponder that info and maybe if you are lucky send you some more convincing reasons Sony is safe as the leader of the home gaming industry.
#2 by davis on July 21, 2006 - 5:20 pm
I’m going to stand by my headline on this one because I think it all depends on how you look at the number and how you define the war. For example is it really fair to include the PS1 (or even PS2) in your analysis. Sony had a huge head start and won both those wars with Nintendo and Microsoft, but the currently they are way behind on the PS3. I think you are right about the PS2 out selling Xbox, but that was a battle fought several years ago. The new console war is about advanced generation graphics and functionality. When you look at the battlefield in this framework it’s 5 million Xbox 360 vs. 0 PS3′s. I also think that there is another war that I’m refering here to as well and that’s who has the most kick ass console. I’ve been a HUGE PS2 Lover in the past, but the Xbox 360 makes it feel like a comodore 64 to me.
It’s easy to point to Sony foothold on the industry as proof that they’ve won the first 2 console wars, but with consumers buying next gen devices, I think Sony is getting creamed by Microsoft right now. Sony has been subjected to delays, a much more expensive product and insistence on including support for the next generation of betamax into the product. When I look at this I see a lot of upset consumers while Microsoft’s biggest problem has been that they underestimated demand and can’t fill orders fast enough. When the PS3 comes out we’ll find out if Sony takes the advantage again, but my prediction is that they’ve lost the lead on next gen consoles and that when all is said and done that Microsoft will sell a lot more 360s, then Sony will sell PS3s. Just like Sony’s lead gave them the advantage when it came to the PS2, I think in five years we’ll look back and see Microsoft dominate the PS3 in the same way.
#3 by alldgtl on July 21, 2006 - 7:01 pm
All valid points but wrong non the less. Sony last month (again last month) out sold Xbox 360. What does that say about people buying next generation boxs? You say that demand is the only problem you know of that Mocrosoft has had. Well what about your rant on Thomas’ page about extra fees? Your statement about lack of game selection? That is in my humble opinion the biggest factor on console sales, and Sony will blow Microsoft away every generation with game selection. Why do people believe the 360 is so cheap? 300$ and you are set. Not so. To get a fully functional 360 it will cost 500$. Sony has a 600$ price figure. The Sony is also looking at lasting longer at the top than the 360. Microsoft as always has the best technology that is standard today in there unit, were sony is putting the best technology of tomorrow in there unit (blu-ray, cell technology). In Microsofts short corporate excistance they have become what the US car companies are, egotistical and lazy. They live up to the minimum standard and hype their history. That is not a way to compete with the inovative and creative business companies that are in the global market.
#4 by davis on July 21, 2006 - 8:39 pm
You know I’m surprised that you would accuse me of being a Gate’s fan boy if you saw my rant on Tom’s blog. I certainly didn’t feel that was very complimentary to Microsoft or the Xbox 360. I mentioned that I thought there were issues with the networking and game availability in my original post.
As for the PS2 out selling the Xbox 360, I guess that easy to do when you are selling a cheper inferior product vs. the more expensive next gen console. The next stage of the console wars is next gen and when it comes to next gen Sony is getting killed. I’ve seen the specs for the new box and while it’s still too early to comment, I’ve been unimpressed to date. The way I see it, it’s packed with a bunch of bloatware I don’t want or need.
Only time will tell if I’m right or wrong, but I haven’t found the Xbox 360 to be a “minimum standard” at all. The gameplay is amazing (I even said that in my Final Fantasy rant) As far as game availability goes, Microsoft has a head start. The way I see it Sony still has zero games out for the PS3. Between Microsoft’s more aggressive stance towards licensing games and their beefing up the production of their own in house games, I don’t think that they’ll make that same mistake twice. Only time will tell if Microsoft will win. I think that they will, but today Sony is getting the pants beaten off of them by delays, extra components consumers don’t want and a higher price point for the same gameplay. (I’m assuming, if PS3 is freakin’ amazing I’ll change my stance)
#5 by aaa on December 18, 2006 - 12:19 am
microsoft eats shit
#6 by gzus on December 21, 2006 - 4:15 pm
i have been through four ps2 consoles. i said id never switch to the x-box. i did, and i can tell you that game selection is a problem for the ps3, not the 360. im having trouble playing all my games right now. 360 is killin sonys online support and the acheivements are super sick. i think this guy is right. in five years, the 360 will have proven to be the dominant system. fu@# sony and their wack ass- broken pieces of shit….
#7 by BellaKitty on July 13, 2009 - 8:36 pm
Great post. This is why MS will never die. Sadly for linux heads like me lol. Nah I use windows daily. Just kidding.