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Topic: Hardware

Xbox 360: 15 months as the best-selling console in the US

Summary: Microsoft is enjoying its fifteenth consecutive month as the best-selling console in the U.S., according to NPD data.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

There could be a reason why Microsoft doesn't want to talk about a replacement for the aging Xbox 360 console just yet -- because it continues to sell so well.

Microsoft is enjoying its fifteenth consecutive month as the best-selling console in the U.S., according to data by NPD. In March, 371,000 Xbox 360 units were sold, allowing it to hold on to a 42 percent share of current-generation console sales.

Total retail spend on the Xbox 360 platform in March -- covering hardware, software and accessories -- was also through the roof, with consumers spending a massive $430 million. This was more than PS3 and Wii spending combined.

A good selection of AAA-title games is helping to keep the Xbox relevant, with the Xbox holding five of the top 10 U.S. console game titles including Mass Effect 3, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, NBA 2K12,  and Major League Baseball 2K12.

Microsoft is also positioning the Xbox 360 as a home entertainment hub, having recently added voice-controlled TV apps from Comcast and HBO GO in the U.S., and MLB TV to the console giving owners easy access to TV shows, sports and music with voice control and Kinect voice search.

According to Microsoft, since entertainment apps on Xbox 360 began rolling out to the consoles last December, total hours spent on Xbox LIVE globally has grown 30 percent year over year. In other words, people want to do more with their consoles than just game.

While there's no doubt that PC gaming is being throttled by the current line-up of aging consoles, given these level of sales it's clear that consumers don't see a need for Microsoft to update the console yet.

My guess it will be 2014 before we see an updated Xbox.

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.

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Topics: Hardware, Microsoft, Mobility

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26 comments
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  • Isn't it kind of dangerous to WAIT till you actually have too?

    Pagan jim
    James Quinn
    Reply Vote

    • That's what Microsoft does.

      They ignored the game console market until Nintendo and Sony dominated it. They built Office in response to the success of WorkPerfect. They did Windows CE in response to Palm OS. They ignored the internet until Netscape and Yahoo made it impossible to ignore any longer. They couldn't do a decent phone until Apple and Google showed them how. They ignored tablets for years until the iPad cut into desktop sales. XBox Live was created to follow the success of Apple TV. Microsoft can only wait to see what other companies do then respond to it. They don't create trends they follow them.
      AnalogJoystick
      Reply Vote

      • ...

        1. Xbox Live was introduced in 2002, Apple TV in 2006
        2. Windows CE and the Palm Pilot 1000 (first device to use Palm OS) were both released in 1996
        3. They dominated the Smartphone market until Apple and Google came and did it better. There's a difference there.
        4. Microsoft released their first tablet PC in 2001. Apple in 2010.
        ManuNarayan
        Reply Vote

      • Didn't Palm adopt the MS OS and then die?

        Also wasn't Palm in the throe of dying before Apple entered the market? Don't forget BB that one might be blamed on a one two punch from Apple and google? As for MS I guess that could have been the other factor that Apple brought to the for front which was smartphones outside of the enterprise? For the rest of us so to speak I think that is what caught MS and BB flat footed myself. But Palm was already on its way out.

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

      • What's Your Point?

        By your logic that's what Apple does. Before the iPod came around there were lot's of MP3 players. Before the iPhone there were plenty of smart phones. Before the iPad there were tablet pcs. Apple just did them better. Much like MS did in the software world....
        Gary554
        Reply Vote

      • And Apple, and Google; shall I continue?

        or do you now understand the mistake of your statement?
        :|
        Tim Cook
        Reply Vote

      • "XBox Live was created to follow the success of Apple TV"

        LOL!
        KTLA
        Reply Vote

      • Few corrections

        @ManuNarayan:
        2. Newton OS was released in 1993;
        4. Newton was the first GUI/touch/stylus tablet (it was quite spacious 800 g device, "smallest" among three sizes that were planned for production).
        DDERSSS
        Reply Vote

    • Is that not what Apple does?

      They do not release all of their technology in on product, instead release upgrades over the course of each model year.

      Why would someone want to upgrade their hardware if the first model they purchased has everything they would want?
      Tim Cook
      Reply Vote

    • Not waitng just not announcing

      Anybody with any knowledge of the games industry knows that the new xbox will be end of 2012 or first half of 2013 (there are plenty of rumours as to whats going to be in it), this is like demanding that Apple talk iPad 4 right now
      the.nameless.drifter
      Reply Vote

  • Hmmm

    I thought for sure Microsoft would be working on a Windows 8 or maybe even Windows 9 based system to replace the XBox. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to play XBox titles on the desktop and vise versa? Apple couldn't even come close to touching that.
    The one and only, Cylon Centurion
    Reply Vote

    • Don't think Apple is even in this (If you pardon the expression) game:)

      Pagan jim
      James Quinn
      Reply Vote

    • That would defeat the need for Windows all together

      If you could do everything on an xbox, why bother wasting money on a computer?
      Jumpin Jack Flash
      Reply Vote

  • I'm not surprised

    [i]However, I know many gamers who have purchased 2, or even 3 Xbox consoles, so that when one fails, (and they fail a lot), so that when one is in for service, they have the other to use. So these number are a little inflated.[/i]

    So much for quality control.
    ScorpioBlack
    Reply Vote

    • You will support any lie

      if it is against Microsoft.

      Illogical.
      :|
      Tim Cook
      Reply Vote

    • Totally logical, space troll

      So these are all "lies", huh...

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_technical_problems

      http://betanews.com/2011/01/05/microsoft-denies-link-between-xbox-failures-and-kinect/

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12121999

      I can find hundreds of others while your little green molecules are floating around space.

      You can go back to one of your other sock puppets now, troll. ;)
      ScorpioBlack
      Reply Vote

    • Don't you have a rock

      to crawl back under?

      You contibute nothing to any talk back I've read. Do you have so little to do that slamming anything MS is your life's highlight?
      whatagenda
      Reply Vote

    • Oh, a new sock puppet

      [i]Don't you have a rock to crawl back under?[/i]

      Nope. Totally out in the open. Too bad. Tough.

      [i]You contibute nothing to any talk back I've read. Do you have so little to do that slamming anything MS is your life's highlight?[/i]

      Ab-so-lute-ly.

      lol... :D
      ScorpioBlack
      Reply Vote

  • I see. Since the report bothers you

    create a false statement to make an excuse in your favor?

    No gamer that I know has multiple XBox's, especially as abackup [i]that when one is in for service, they have the other to use. So these number are a little inflated.[/i]

    I do know of ganmers with both XBox and Playsations, but that is as far as the "multiple game console" families go.
    :|
    Tim Cook
    Reply Vote

    • I've heard what @linux for me has said before

      http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-913456.html

      He speaketh the truth, TV troll
      ScorpioBlack
      Reply Vote
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