Microsoft wants to sell 10 million Xbox 360 consoles in first year or so

by Peter Rojas on Jun 21st 2005 11:05AM

You can argue (and we're sure you will) about whether they're being totally realistic or not, but Peter Moore, VP of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing for the Xbox, announced at a conference in London that Microsoft expects to sell 10 million Xbox 360 consoles within 12 to 16 months of its launch (which is set for later this year). Microsoft's banking on the first mover advantage (read up on the Dreamcast to see how this can be double-edged sword) and an avalanche of youth-oriented marketing to push them over the top this time around, but to put things in perspective, it's taken them almost four years to sell 20 million original Xbox consoles.

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Reader Comments (55)

Microsoft never planned on making a profit with the Xbox. They also made a really dumb decision when they signed their hardware contracts (which they admitted to but didn't repeat for the 360) which was to not purchase the design rights to the hardware. They have to use Nvidia and Intel created chips, so they are locked into paying too much for old technology and haven't been able to reduce the costs with the new fab technology like Sony and Nintendo. Perhaps that's one of many reasons that Microsoft went with IBM and ATI this time ;)

Anyhow, my point earlier was that PS2 is losing momentum (yes, they are still the dominant force, but no where near as dominant as say 2 years ago). Another point to reinforce this, when I read my ESPN the Mag and SI, athletes talk about their favorite hobbies, and if video gaming is mentioned, Halo is easily the most popular game (probably close to 2x or 3x over all others combined). Athletes used to always talk about PS2, but now that's the exception as opposed to the rule and Xbox Live has become the dominant internet medium for head to head contests sponsered by the magazines. You may ask why "athletes" should matter, but they are a good example of the "average" gamer (unlike these engadget forums and any gaming website). My other point earlier was to prove the "Halo" effect which if you don't believe, then you are clearly not looking at the numbers. As everyone says, games make the system and Halo made Xbox.

rofl, microsoft hasn't even sold 25 million xboxes in 4 years, they think they can sell 10 mil. in one year, rofl.

7.6 million Xboxes were sold by the end of 2002 which was 14 months after the US rollout (less for Europe and Japan). I would say 10 million is VERY realistic especially considering it's first to market as opposed to last to market.

I love those XBOX's, and I can't wait till the new
Xbox 360 comes out, but also not all want-to-have Americans can't buy them at the 1st price, so I don't think it's gonna' happen. The PS stuff has always been #1, but Microsoft has done well being #2 and all with the Xbox, and I think they are gonna' beat the PS stuff...someday....

i love those xbox's, and i can't wait till the new
xbox 360 comes out, but also not all want-to-have americans can't buy them at the 1st price, so i don't think they can put out even 5 million, now that china isn't wanting the 360.sony has always been #1, but microsoft has done well being #2 and all with the xbox, and only bein' around 4 a few years. as i say,"if we could give everyone who has a ps console a xbox, this would be a whole new world."

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