Microsoft says "over half" of 360 buyers didn't own Xbox 1

by Blake Snow { Jan 18th 2007 at 1:56PM }

There's over a 50% chance that if you own a 360, you didn't own the first Xbox. Well, according to Microsoft that is. "We've sold 10.4 million, but the stat you may not have heard is that over half of those sales are from people that didn't own an Xbox 1," said Microsoft manager, Chris Satchell while speaking with Eurogamer. He continued by saying, "There's lots of new people coming in ... What we're actually finding is that our customer set is broadening." Blue ocean strategy (read: market expansion) is so hot right now.

The article goes on to slightly criticize Satchell's growth remarks, however, questioning what we know as 10.4 million units sold to retailers by Microsoft the wholesaler and not directly to consumers. Nevertheless, 10.4 million is a solid feat with the obvious caveat being the company ultimately needs end consumers to buy more 360's which equates to repeat sales to retailers. So for any 360 owners in the room who didn't also own an Xbox 1, please say "I."

[via Kotaku]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Mat Schwartz @ Jan 18th 2007 1:59PM

dvdguy @ Jan 18th 2007 2:00PM

A lot of Wii owners didn't own a GameCube either.

Nick @ Jan 18th 2007 2:23PM

FrankTheCrank @ Jan 18th 2007 2:12PM

Must be a slow news day.

Microsoft did not sell 10.4 million.

Wiki says just over 6 Million...those are NPD numbers.

KaneRobot @ Jan 18th 2007 2:05PM

I owned an XBox, and it was the only console of the last/current generation I bought, unless you include the Dreamcast as part of the PS2 generation.

I don't own a Gamecube, but I'll probably get a Wii at some point.

I didn't own a PS2 and don't plan on getting a PS3 anytime soon.

deaftly @ Jan 18th 2007 2:13PM

i had an xbox before i got my ps2

John @ Jan 18th 2007 2:05PM

ScrewTheJapanese @ Jan 18th 2007 2:10PM

I owned a PS1 and a PS2 and loved them both, after hearing some of the rediculous arrogant talk by Kutargi about him wanting the consumer to have to work a more hours to buy his sleek black paperweight, years of brand loyalty went out the window and I bought a 360 and havent looked back. I honestly dont know how anyone could listen to pieces of crap like Kutargi blantantly insult your intelligence as a gamer and still stay loyal to his company.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Jan 18th 2007 2:14PM

Short Answer: I

I used to be a SONY fanboy. However, when the 360 became available as the first 'next gen' console I took the bait. To say the least I am pleased with my decision not to put all of my hopes into PS3. But if PS3 had launched at the same time, regardless of negative PR, I would have bought it instead.

Sonic @ Jan 18th 2007 2:10PM

Xbox just wasnt a good console as a whole, but technically better then the PS2, minus the games.

The 360 is easily not an Xbox 2.

Aex @ Jan 18th 2007 2:12PM

I

@dvdguy
Depends on how many you mean by alot. So far, I don't know anyone with a wii that didn't have a GC. It would be interesting to see an actualy reported number instead of hearing fanboy dreams. Not to mention it is totally irrelevant to this topic.

flyguy @ Jan 18th 2007 2:10PM

I'm one of those people that didn't have a XBOX before my 360...because I was a former Sony fanboy.

Yes, a lot of Wii owners didn't have a Gamecube either, but I'm sure it's much less than half.

Josh @ Jan 18th 2007 2:13PM

Aye

Dr Heartless @ Jan 18th 2007 2:12PM

I always liked the Xbox ok but when stacked against the PS2 I never felt the need to get it. Now with the Xbox 360 being oh so much more and stacked against the PS3, well it was pretty clear. I have gone with the 360 for over nine months now and have no regrets. I do wish the whole of the Xbox 1 library was playable.

fyreblazer @ Jan 18th 2007 2:39PM

Nate @ Jan 18th 2007 2:41PM

To me, Xbox was easily the best console of the last generation....so anyone who didn't own one should try and grab one (cuz 360 doesn't play all the games). They're pretty cheap now, and there's so many great games that were console exclusive....Halo series, Ninja Gaiden, Chronicles Of Riddick, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Fable, Jade Empire, Star Wars: Kotor series, Forza, Half-Life 2, Crimson Skies, Oddworld series, Morrowind, Deus Ex: Invisible War, Phantom Dust, Otogi...I know there's more I'm forgetting, but with games like that, Xbox became probably one of my favorite consoles of all-time.

Check it out if you haven't.

Steve @ Jan 18th 2007 2:15PM

eye

Rainblood @ Jan 18th 2007 2:15PM

disguised @ Jan 18th 2007 2:17PM

I didn't buy the Xbox or GC. And I got Wii360 now.

Tim @ Jan 18th 2007 2:20PM

Nay

Adam @ Jan 18th 2007 2:22PM

EnderAl @ Jan 18th 2007 2:22PM

I'm another newbie to the Xbox platform. And it should speak volumes that I love my 360 but pretty much hate every other Microsoft product out there. I just think they've done a great job in creating both the system and the Xbox Live network.

flymolo @ Jan 18th 2007 2:37PM

I don't have an xbox but I plan on buying a 360 eventually.

rokorre @ Jan 18th 2007 2:20PM

I . . . i didnt own an xbox but i do have a 360 . . . for that matter i didnt have a gamecube but i do have a wii . . . i did have a ps2 and i do haev a ps3 . . .

SonicRift @ Jan 18th 2007 2:24PM

I'm an early adopter usually, and the XBox had an pathetic early life, especially with games like Tony Hawk 2x back when Tony Hawk games actually mattered.

I waited for E3 to make my decision, knowing I'd only be getting PS3 or 360. After seeing Sony's embarrassing E3 showing, I went out and got a 360.

So I never bothered with the first one. And I know that more than half of the guys I know with 360 didn't either.

In time I think the 360 will enjoy a life similar to that of the PS2's.

Tony @ Jan 18th 2007 2:22PM

"Must be a slow news day.

Microsoft did not sell 10.4 million.

Wiki says just over 6 Million...those are NPD numbers."

Not sure what Wiki you're reading considering that 6 million number came from Q3 2006. There's four quarters in a year.

mrfreeze @ Jan 18th 2007 2:25PM

Hey FlyGuy, I will see you tonight on Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.

El Tiante @ Jan 18th 2007 2:29PM

I owned a PS1 and PS2. They were great consoles with great games, especially the PS1. I was all hot for the PS3, but the delays and price left me cold. Last March I picked up a 360 and haven’t regretted it for a moment. I got a Sony 40” LCD in November and the HD graphics are just simply stunning. GoW is so damn great.

I am big fan of racing games but given GT delays (will it ever come out?) I’m even happier with my decision. FORZA 2!

Miniboss @ Jan 18th 2007 2:25PM

Half of Xbox 360 owners didn't own an Xbox. So that means about 5 million users DID own an Xbox. Therefore, that means that they lost over 75% of their original userbase.

See, it's really easy to twist numbers to say anything. The 360 is great... let it stand on its own without twisting numbers to try and look better than your competitors.

USP45 @ Jan 18th 2007 2:27PM

Nay and this article is pure bullshit, everyone knows that over 90% of 360 owners are ms bitches. So all you ms biches keep lying if that makes you feel better.

fragglefart @ Jan 18th 2007 2:28PM

Aye, I'm a 360 convert.

Vever had the original Xbox. MS are doing everything right now.

Erik Novak @ Jan 18th 2007 4:12PM

Washimingo @ Jan 18th 2007 2:52PM

I,

Didn't got the first xbox because it was a piece of crap.

But xbox 360 is a whole diferent history, great graphics and more important great games and excellent online features.

jc @ Jan 18th 2007 2:37PM

I

This is the first time I have given MS money for hardware...

LongshotX @ Jan 18th 2007 2:42PM

I. Xbox 360 is like the Dreamcast 2 I always wanted. Great graphics, sound, connectivity, cool accessories, similar controller in some regards, and just plain fun. So for all those Dreamcast lovers pick up a Xbox 360, it's as close as you'll get to a Dreamcast 2. Now only if Namco would hurry up with Soul Calibur 4.

chris @ Jan 18th 2007 2:34PM

i have evey system ever made xcept the original xbox it just wasnt my cup of tea but the 360 is great step in the right direction for microsoft but ill always be a sony fanboi

john @ Jan 18th 2007 2:34PM

I had a gamecube for games last gen, and bought and xbox at the end of the cycle exclusively for XBMC. I have a Wii now and I'll probably be getting an xbox360 for online play at some point after they update it (I'm interested in bigger HD and a quieter system).

vidGuy @ Jan 18th 2007 2:37PM

Cool. I owned all three last gen and now own a 360 and a Wii. That's the way it's going to stay, I don't think anything could persuade me to buy a PS3 within the next five years.

Market expansion is great as long as the system caters to BOTH old and new gamers. Both MS and Nintendo need to remember this. MS hasn't provided much in the way of casual games, and Nintendo's future plans run the risk of going too casual - I'm stoked for some 1st party franchises and new IPs, plus some hyped 3rd party games like Sadness and Midnight, but Cooking Mama, the inevitable Brain Training games, and I'm sure Nintendogs could saturate the core library, leaving slim pickings for weathered gamers.

Personally, I feel that the Wii will cause much more market disruption and growth than the 360, but both are going to do well by themselves, and together they will easily destroy the PS3 and Sony's marketshare. Any way you look at it, a larger slice (marketshare) of a larger pie (market growth) is going to spell big success for Microsoft and Nintendo this generation.

Xopher @ Jan 18th 2007 2:46PM

"Nay and this article is pure bullshit, everyone knows that over 90% of 360 owners are ms bitches. So all you ms biches keep lying if that makes you feel better"

So, you must be one of Sony's 'biches' who spent $700 on a console with no games worth playing?

I for one never owned an Xbox, but I have a Wii60 now, with no plans to buy a PS3 because there's simply nothing worth playing on it.

Matt @ Jan 18th 2007 2:43PM

#5

That's a matter of opinion. I bought an Xbox within the 1st year. It had a slow start, but by the time the 360 rolled around, the Xbox had replaced my SNES as my favorite console of all time.

The thing about the Xbox is that it catered to a rather narrow demographic. If you were outside of that group, you probably thought it sucked. If you were inside of it though, it was awesome.

VampireHunter Z @ Jan 18th 2007 2:38PM

I didn't know much about the Xbox1 when it came out. I had a GCN, PS2 and Dreamcast. Me and my roommate were like lets get a Xbox and complete the collection. We stumbled on PGR2 and OMG!! You could play online with with people. I easily killed about 400 hrs on this game. I didn't even know what the hell was Halo until Halo 2. Had a lot of fun with that and Forza.

360 then became the first console I bought on launch day.

Agent MOO @ Jan 18th 2007 3:09PM

Skipped XBox and GC, Wii60 here too.

Got a ps2 late (when GTA:SA came out) got it only for the gta exclusive, then bought a few games for it.

Last system I was nuts about before the Wii and 360 was the SNES.

eblend @ Jan 18th 2007 3:53PM

"8. Must be a slow news day.

Microsoft did not sell 10.4 million.

Wiki says just over 6 Million...those are NPD numbers. "

You do realize that the world consists of other countries then just USA right? Think about it, your country is not the only country in the world where xbox360 is sold, it is sold in 36 countries currently, so get over yourself

Mike @ Jan 20th 2007 9:55AM

I didn't own an original XBox. Last generation I started out with a Dreamcast that I got used well after it's demise. Then I moved on to a Gamecube and eventually a PS2. The 360 is the first console I've gotten at launch price (though I probably would have waited for the first price drop had my wife not gotten it for me for Christmas). There just weren't enough games I was interested in on the original XBox.

Dracula Jones @ Jan 18th 2007 2:40PM

Aye

Marty @ Jan 18th 2007 3:12PM

Makes sense, my brother owned an original Xbox, and now owns a 360, and I did not own an original Xbox, but I own a 360. :D

pattyblades @ Jan 18th 2007 2:42PM

hay

I

Screwed @ Jan 18th 2007 7:57PM

Yeah, Cause Half original XBOX people knew they got screwed by Microsoft for dumping them totallly. They got smart and go for Wii or even PS3 instead. Another half just too dumb fuck to follow.

For those "I" over here, I hope you enjoy getting screwed by Nintendo Wii and maybe PS3.

BlessedBullet @ Jan 18th 2007 6:43PM

I.

I was a PC gamer during the PS2 generation.

segapswii60 @ Jan 18th 2007 2:49PM

I own almost every consoles from 16-bit to multi-core.

Microsoft: Xbox, Xbox 360-HD DVD.
Nintendo: Super NES, N64, Gamecube-Gameboy Player, Wii.
Sega: Genesis-CD-32X, Saturn, Dreamcast.
Sony: PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStaion 3.

they all hooked up to my 32" LCD HDTV and 6.1 surround sound Dolby D. EX DTS ES reciever via High-def AV selector.