Microsoft declares 360 shortage is over
by Ross Miller 
{ Mar 21st 2006 at 4:00PM }
And so it is, 2
weeks before the Free
Xbox Live Gold weekend, that Microsoft has come out with its flight suit on and announces that the Xbox 360
shortage is officially over. In a press release today, Microsoft has promised to "distribute two to three times
the number of Xbox 360 consoles to the retail channel weekly," which should satiate the demand for their
next-generation offering.In addition, Microsoft notes that the Xbox Live Marketplace "has reached more than 10 million downloads faster than iTunes did when it launched"--which seems like a big accomplishment, but let's put that in perspective. When the iTunes Music Store was launched in 2003, broadband availability was lower than now (there has been a lot of expansion in 3 years). On top of that, the music store was only available to people who owned Mac computers, which was then an even smaller niche than it is now. Even still, the Marketplace is indeed a huge victory for Microsoft and Microsoft's cash flow, and the end of the shortage should mark a spike in Marketplace purchases.
By our calculations, it has taken Microsoft exactly 119 days (almost 4 months) since the US 360 launch to rid itself of a shortage. Let us see how the Nintendo and Sony launches fare in comparison.
[Thanks, SuicideNinja]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gonzo @ Mar 21st 2006 4:09PM
It's okay, soon I'll have the ps3 to put up on ebay. Apparently Trauma Center for the DS is supposed to be going scarce as well.
Exo @ Mar 21st 2006 4:10PM
While i expect the PS3 launch to be even worse, I think the nintendo one wont be bad at all. because they will be able manafacture alot more units in a shorter amount of time because of parts being alot easier to make on rev, but also because the rev needs to prove itself in the publics eye before it can sell like crazy. thought the lower price tag may help it alot during the holiday season.
joseph @ Mar 21st 2006 4:11PM
Fucking finally.Microsoft has finally opened its ears to our crys .I better be able to get a 360 tommorrow those bastards
jaemz @ Mar 21st 2006 4:13PM
We had a surplus of Xbox 360s here for the last month. When I bought mine on Feb 17th, Walmart had 8 Premium and 4 core machines... the Superstore (grocery store with electronics dept) had several as well.
Are there still people looking for them that can't find some? Anyone want phone numbers to our store up here (Nova Scotia)?
Michael McGuire @ Mar 21st 2006 4:14PM
No, no, no.
Read the press release: they are announcing wider availability. They never say the shortage is over. Just because more 360's will be available, doesn't mean the shortage is over.
.ed @ Mar 21st 2006 4:16PM
finally people will know that there was no real shortage, just low supply, hype and bs marketing tactics...
now we'll get to see huge stacks of systems collecting dust in store shelves just like the rest of the world.
where /is/ that huge worldwide demand?
ooohh economics burn.
Julio @ Mar 21st 2006 4:18PM
How about they do something regarding the shortage of good games and the fact that they haven't updated the backward compatability list in months.
Chris Johnston @ Mar 21st 2006 4:23PM
I'll believe it when I see it. In early December they promised that more shipments were imminent. They said they were shipping more systems out every week as fast as they could get them out the door. Over the past 100+ days I have only once been at a store that had any available systems in, and they had two cores. I still have a few friends that are actively looking for premium-pack 360s. We'll see if they're able to find them in the next month or so.
Rare Hare @ Mar 21st 2006 4:23PM
games i've been dying to play:
-Kameo
-Oblivion
-Madden 2006
-Fight Night Round 3
soon, my precious 360 games.. soon.
puh_fifer @ Mar 21st 2006 4:23PM
There really does seem to be a good game drought, although I'll admit I have enough to keep me busy. Ive been loving GRAW for 2 weeks and now I starting to bore. Is anyone else looking forward to blazing angels and chromehounds more than other games? Microsoft has successfully made me a live whore, so I don't know if I would put the time into Oblivion.
What is everyone looking forward to now that they should be able to get a system?
Standin' in the sun @ Mar 21st 2006 4:24PM
I might pick up a core system, if I have enough money. So far there hasnt been any games that have interested me, so I'm not that sure, then again I'm disappointed by the lack of titles so far by nintendo and sega. I'm hoping Resident evil 5 gets released when I'm gonna buy it.
Can anyone tell about media features I hear about? I just want something else to justify the purchase?
PaleGringo @ Mar 21st 2006 4:25PM
Not a bad job... props to Microsoft for being the industry leader into the next generation of consoles.
It will be interesting to find out how future console releases are shaped by this one, for whatever its worth. Sony will be doing a worldwide launch, and I bet my brothers on the other side of the Atlantic are happy that FOR ONCE Sony is showing them some launch love.
Now, that's not to say that everything will be rosy and great... Microsoft showed us that and Sony has already lied about... er... "misstated" their launch window. Wait until the REAL problems start, and I know they will. They always do.
Me? My 360 made it about 3 1/2 months before it died, experiencing some kind of hardware problem before giving me the "Ring of Death" (specifically, three red LEDs indicating hardware failure). Still, I wasn't totally heartbroken over this, as it was a good experience about short term adoption. Microsoft has since remedied the problem and I can't flaw their customer support.
Don't expect perfect launches from Sony or Nintendo. Hopefully, all the kinks will be worked out before too much time passes. Happy gaming to all those who wanted a 360 and can now finally get one!
jon @ Mar 21st 2006 4:26PM
Shortage of good games??? GR:AW, Fight Night, Oblivion, Need for Speed, Burnout, Top Spin, Far Cry, Call of Duty 2, Battlefield 2, DOA 3, Project Gotham....are you looking at the same Library of games I am...cause those are all very good games. These titles are either all out now or will be out within 3-4weeks.
Prize Fighter Inferno @ Mar 21st 2006 4:35PM
I was just wondering dose that 10 million count downloads of free demos, movie trailers, and other items of that nature or are they counting only the items users pay for?
JodyAnthony @ Mar 21st 2006 4:38PM
jon:
while those may be quality games, they are also very american games. Wasn't microsoft supposed to do well in japan this time?
myself, the only games I will spend $50+ on is a good rpg, but i dont like american rpgs. call me stupid or whatever, but until I get a game like the dragon quest or suikoden or even final fantasy games, I have absolutely no interest in the 360.
the games you mentioned may be good for you, may be good for a lot of people, but they aren't what everyone is in to.
Nate @ Mar 21st 2006 4:41PM
LOL @ "Shortage of good games"
Like the guy above said....GRAW, Oblivion, Burnout Revenge, Far Cry, Top Spin, etc....
Probably the best 2nd wave of games ever. I can't wait to see what's in store for later in the year.
peeweejd @ Mar 21st 2006 4:43PM
does this mean stores will stop selling crappy overpriced bundles now?
32_Footsteps @ Mar 21st 2006 4:43PM
Jon, keep in mind that your list of games might seem incredible to you, but incredibly dull to many others.
Part of me wants to ask if they solved the shortage by just taking the ones that didn't sell in Japan and sending them to the U.S. If nothing else, it would be a more efficient usage of resources.
Watership @ Mar 21st 2006 4:44PM
shortage of good games? I think for a console that's been out for 4 months, it's pretty good. GRAW, Oblivion, DOA4, PGR3, COD2, Burnout revenge, Lots of great arcade games as well. Then in the next few weeks, there is Burning Angels, Far Cry Preditor, and more demos and arcade games. 4 months.
Also they've updated the Backward compatibilty list once, Just after Christmas. Expect another update soon.
again. 4 months. OH MY GOD FAILURE!
copa @ Mar 21st 2006 4:44PM
"By our calculations, it has taken Microsoft exactly 119 days (almost 4 months) since the US 360 launch to rid itself of a shortage."
Well, you better keep counting. Microsoft will be 'rid of a shortage' when I can go online and buy a premium system a la carte, not as part of a $650 bundle.
We're not there yet. Not even all that close.
Zachary @ Mar 21st 2006 4:53PM
"finally people will know that there was no real shortage, just low supply, hype and bs marketing tactics..."
And at least for this consumer(me) it all worked against them, I've lost interest, if I walked into a Best Buy today and they had 20 360's I wouldn't even look twice. Maybe i'll get one, someday.
Jeff @ Mar 21st 2006 5:00PM
"GRAW, Oblivion, DOA4, PGR3, COD2, Burnout revenge,"
Holy cow, that's a lot of sequels to games that weren't all that great the first, second or third times. And at least one of them (PGR3) is actually *worse* than its predecessor! (Fewer cars to play with, which is pretty much the *point* of this kind of driving game.)
Hey, if you're happy with this selection, then great. Have fun. I personally think this list is everything that's currently wrong with the game industry.
Princess Zelda @ Mar 21st 2006 5:04PM
"has reached more than 10 million downloads faster than iTunes did when it launched"
That's not a fair comparrison considering iTunes didn't have any free content until it's first year anniversary. What percentage of the 10 Million Downloads is paid for content. To make a fair comparison Microsoft would have to give the paid for content downloads to the iTunes downloads.
E Targum @ Mar 21st 2006 5:13PM
I need to agree - at this point, the hype-factor has died for me. I'm not overly excited about the current game line-up. (In fact, I'm more interested in upcoming PS2 titles) I'm willing to wait for the Rev or PS3 to be my next system purchase.
Jo @ Mar 21st 2006 5:18PM
Hmm, I think the problem is also demand.
Here in Canada they've been sitting on the shelves since mid-February.
"According to industry sources, more than 160,000 Xbox 360s were sold in February. That compares to more than 300,000 PlayStation 2's, more than 170,000 PlayStation Portables, and over 150,000 Nintendo DS units sold during the month of February."
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145806.html
In Japan the sales are roughly 5,000 units per month. (see the weekly hardware sales charts on http://www.next-gen.biz/ )
Globally this thing is being buried by 5-year old PS2. This is continuing to be an extremely weak launch.
embassy @ Mar 21st 2006 5:19PM
the 360 has a great array of games..if your looking for jap RPGS and stuff like that..obviously the american made 360 wont be for you..at least for awhile...so stop using that dry , played out excuse....i swear..ive heard the same excuses since the system launched "no good rpgs" ...heres oblivion
"oh i dont like AMERICAN rpgs" ..lol c'mon..make up your mind..." there are too many games that are sequels" ..and this statement always comes from a nitnendo fan whos waiting day and night for twiligt princes..which is like wat..the 7th zelda game..??
"the games dont like next gen enough" ..ok heres GRAW and FNR3 ..."ok well they look good but its the same old gameplay" yada yada...so yall are gonna have to come up with new excuses cuz this is getting really old...really fast...
and lol@ jeff saying more cars = a better game..lol..thats just stupid..c'mon now...
Omega697 @ Mar 21st 2006 5:33PM
Let's look at the games for 360 shall we?
To me it looks like: Drive, drive, drive, shoot, shoot, shoot, sports, sports, sports...
There is a fighting game, but honestly, if I want to play a fighting game, I already have Mortal Kombat: DA, Soul Calibur II, Super Smash Brothers: Melee...
I'm sorry, but there's definitely no system seller there for me. Especially not for a giant $600 bundle that includes crap like Gun and PD: Zero.
Kameo looks interesting, but again, not a system seller, for me.
don_sf @ Mar 21st 2006 5:35PM
i dont think many people will be buying. but a few people i know are just buying so they can exchange it for a ps3 when it comes out.
its more value having a ps2 than a 360, theres hardly anything good about it. pgr is the only thing but then again you will see better looking games on the ps3.
Nate @ Mar 21st 2006 5:36PM
The 360 system seller just came out today...
It's called Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Anonymous Coward @ Mar 21st 2006 5:40PM
... and Australia gets their Xbox360s released tomorrow. So much for a "Global" release. We're not even the last.
Kye @ Mar 21st 2006 5:58PM
Hmmm...
Weird.
Wonder if the fact thats it's more available has anything to do with the fact that I seen one for sale second hand in a games shop today?
Hmmm...
yovader @ Mar 21st 2006 6:00PM
I'm have no interest in any of the Xbox 360 games. Launching in US, Japan and Europe is not my definition of a gloabal launch.
darryl @ Mar 21st 2006 6:08PM
I thought the "shortage" was over a long time ago. I see both SKUs everywhere... even in my local video rental store. Either there is no shortage in Toronto or people here just are not buying them.
Dan Choi @ Mar 21st 2006 6:09PM
"22. 'has reached more than 10 million downloads faster than iTunes did when it launched'
That's not a fair comparrison considering iTunes didn't have any free content until it's first year anniversary. What percentage of the 10 Million Downloads is paid for content. To make a fair comparison Microsoft would have to give the paid for content downloads to the iTunes downloads."
You're got a point there, Princess Zelda. I would imagine that the ratio of free-to-paid content has been much higher on the Live Marketplace (with all its free demos and trailers) than it was for iTunes (especially during its first four months, when you had to pay for most of the songs on offer).
pfester @ Mar 21st 2006 6:14PM
Just a note to wish you Aussies well on your new 360's! Wonderful machine they are-I have one. A word of advice tho-before you leave the store MAKE SURE YOU BUY AT LEAST A 2 yr extended warranty and [ok maybe more advice] get a small fan for it and keep it WELL ventilated! Good luck chaps!
trooper11 @ Mar 21st 2006 6:17PM
'but until I get a game like the dragon quest or suikoden or even final fantasy games, I have absolutely no interest in the 360....'
See thats the problem. You dont want a game 'like' Dragonquest, Suikoden, or Final Fantasy, you want those actual games and nothing else. At least it seems that way. All of these people calling for innovation and yet in the end all you want is the same thing.
There are some new RPGs coming for the 360 in japan, like Enchant Arms and Blue Dragon.
I would love to see dragon quest or ff on the 360, but id rather see some new rpgs first.
yovader @ Mar 21st 2006 6:37PM
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is not a system seller. I have no interest in it. Elders Scrolls IV is available on the PC.
trooper11 @ Mar 21st 2006 6:42PM
well i think its pretty unfair to place such a high standard for games. If Oblivion is hardcore, then I suppose about every game is hardcore. Besides, a system seller doesnt have to have 'broad appeal', just enough to sell the most systems. Halo has been a system seller and it is does not have 'broad appeal'
There is no one game that appeals to everyone. Oblivion is just like any other rpg game and alot of people like rpg games. If you have a big enough 'hardcore' following, then a game like this could certainly be a system seller
Nik @ Mar 21st 2006 6:53PM
"two to three times the number of Xbox 360 consoles"
Well that's not really news - 2 times zero is still zero!
They might as well have said "infinitely more Xbox 360s will be distributed to retailers"
Yawn @ Mar 21st 2006 7:04PM
The global launch is a success!
Anonymous rep @ Mar 21st 2006 7:20PM
#28 - Nate is right.
#36 - Jago, you're wrong. Hardcore? It's an RPG - and a damn fine one, too.
#37 - Yovader, you're half right, but that also means that you're half wrong.
The reason Nate is right is simple. I'm a PC gamer myself - and it was a VERY close toss-up for me. Spend $399 for an Xbox 360 system, or spend $250 for more RAM and a new video card. As it is, I'll still have to spend another $250 for a new monitor for my PC. If I already had an HDTV, then it would've been no contest - get the Xbox 360.
This discussion has been hashed over many times on the Bethesda forums. A lot of people want to mod the game with the CS - that's why PC gamers will spend the bucks to upgrade their rigs. And make no mistake about it - you better have a high end rig to run Oblivion. (3Ghz processor, 1GB of RAM, 256 MB of DDR video RAM on an Nvidia 6800 video card as a minimum - or an Xbox 360.)
Let's put it another way - both of my local Gamestops had about 50/50 splits in the copies of Oblivion, for PC and Xbox. They were both sold out - 90 copies for one store, 85 for the other - by last night just with the pre-orders. Our Wal-Marts are expecting it Thursday - and they've sold hundreds of pre-orders.
Hardcore gamers? If you're not, then what the hell are you doing on this site in the first place.
Leto @ Mar 21st 2006 7:22PM
No game from the Elder Scroll series has ever sold more than a million units. System seller it is not.
Smack042 @ Mar 21st 2006 7:26PM
Oh you clever, clever Bill Gates you....hold off on the real 360 launch until you have a killer app (instead of that piss poor round of launch titles) and the first wave of people have debugged your console for you....im on to you....but is anybody else?
MegaWatts @ Mar 21st 2006 7:45PM
Forget making more 360s just make them so they actually work without red lights. Mine has red lights flashing. Makes a great disco light.
Imadogg99 @ Mar 21st 2006 9:19PM
Am I finally going to be able to buy one in stores? Oh my, oh dear I hope so.
slow news day @ Mar 21st 2006 9:28PM
It's funny this story appeared today. I've been visiting Best Buy (in California) twice a week since the launch of the 360 last November. Today was the first day I've actually seen a stock of 360s available on the floor for sale! They had exactly 2 core units. Had never seen the box before-- at least up close. It's smaller than I thought. Anyway, I wasn't interested in getting a Core, and would rather have the one with the hard drive, which they were out of, but said would be arriving 'soon.' This is far better than the previous response, 'We have no idea when we'll receive another shipment.'
I'm thinking by next week or at the worst next month, I'll FINALLY be able to purchase a 360. And what good timing, a lot of really cool games are coming out right now.
DocEvil @ Mar 21st 2006 10:22PM
#24 quoted article
"According to industry sources, more than 160,000 Xbox 360s were sold in February. That compares to more than 300,000 PlayStation 2's, more than 170,000 PlayStation Portables, and over 150,000 Nintendo DS units sold during the month of February."
then said:
Globally this thing is being buried by 5-year old PS2
...and yet from the same article, 2 of the top selling games in february were from the 360 library. Even more so, the 360 version of fight night round 3 outsold the ps2 version. All this despite the fact that there are over 100M PS2's versus maybe 3M 360's.
"The month's top sellers, in order, were Madden NFL '06 for the PlayStation 2, Fight Night Round 3 for the Xbox 360, Fight Night Round 3 for the PS2, Call of Duty 2 for the Xbox 360, and Animal Crossing: Wild World for the Nintendo DS."
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145806.html
Also, the people going out to buy a $150 console five years after it launched can't possibly be compared to the people buying a $400 console months after launch. They simply aren't in the same market or price range.
It's like comparing the number of people out there shopping for a honda at the $15k price point versus the number of people out there shopping for a BMW at the $40k price point. They are in completely different markets and price ranges.
Leto @ Mar 21st 2006 10:48PM
DocEvil, you just don't get it. The fact that the PS2 continues to outsell the Xbox 360 even though the PS2 will be 6 years old later this year, is a strong indication of how successful the Playstation 3 will be.
Patrick @ Mar 21st 2006 11:02PM
I have to agree with those saying that there are not many great games on the XBOX360. At least not enough to warrant me buying the system because most of the ones that are out are sequels or ports of ones I can get on the xbox or ps2. Elder scrolls is ok I played it on the PC but I don't like it enough to spend 500 on a system.
Also DocEvil maybe the reason that Fight Night Round 3 for the 360 out sold the PS2 version is that the 360 owners purchased it to add to their game collection since there isn't too many games out for it right now. Where as the people that bought a PS2 have a lot of choices for games including some great budget titles.
So at least for me until more games come out so I am not stuck playing 1 or 2 games I think I will stick with my current gen games.
Franklin @ Mar 21st 2006 11:06PM
1. A game is not a "system seller" if it is readily available for other platforms, especially the PC.
2. Following the above, most of the Xbox 360 titles thus far are also available on other platforms in some variation.
3. Demand for the Xbox 360 appears greatest in the USA and only the USA. It doesn't even look like Canadians want this system.
4. It's still difficult to find available stock for sale, without putting yourself on a wait list. You just can't walk into a Best Buy or other major retailer and expect to see Xbox 360s for sale.