Xbox 360 sales reach 28M, Xbox Live garners 17M users

by Justin McElroy { Jan 6th 2009 at 11:55AM }

Thanks to "over-achieving" in Europe and (we'd imagine) a few sales in North America over the holidays, the 360 has reached 28 million units sold worldwide. That's more than 8 million ahead of PS3 and around 12 million (estimated) behind Wii. Microsoft also claims there are around 17 million users on Xbox Live, with over $1 billion in sales occurring on the service.

To give some perspective to these numbers: If you were to stack all the 360s on top of each other, then stack all the PS3s and Wiis next to them, then stack all the PCs and DSs and PSPs in yet another stack and then just walk away, we could probably all get a lot more reading done.

Tags: consolewars, sales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Duke @ Jan 6th 2009 11:59AM

As you can guess, my new business renting out 10 million 360's better take off soon otherwise I'm screwed!

Alien Lord @ Jan 6th 2009 1:32PM

9240000, that's almost a million.

DigDug @ Jan 6th 2009 6:16PM

This news fails on so many levels.

1. it's not 17m gamers on XBL, as this number is both free sliver accounts and paid for gold accounts. It's likely to be around 9-10m gold accounts globally (less than PSN gamers).

2. It's only 8m difference between PS3 and 360 because only Microsoft have announced their global xmas numbers. Expect that to drop once Sony and Nintendo do the same...

3. Microsofts numbers include over 1m store demo units, Sony and Nintedo do not.

4. Microsofts numbers include RROD replacements.

Are you people thick?

Alien Lord @ Jan 6th 2009 3:44PM

DigDug you really are a Sony troll, what does Sony pay your psychiatrist?

Duke @ Jan 6th 2009 3:46PM

DigDug - your post had nothing to do with mine so thanks for nothing. You're a troll and we all know it. All you do is talk the same anti-MS bs each time you post - so spare us from calling others thick.

gravewolf @ Jan 6th 2009 12:00PM

What is 33% of 28 million? ...just kidding.

Alien Lord @ Jan 6th 2009 1:43PM

9240000, that's almost a million. *replied to the wrong person*

sandjack @ Jan 6th 2009 2:03PM

*ten* million you mean?

Alien Lord @ Jan 6th 2009 2:20PM

shit you're right, I should have added the commas, it makes it easier to read larger numbers.

=Lord Negatron of the XBots= @ Jan 6th 2009 12:03PM

Fap fap fap fap fap!

Ugh... Huh?-Wha-what are you doing in here?!? ALL OF YOU! OUUT AT ONCE!!!

I..I...I was just reading.

gravewolf @ Jan 6th 2009 12:05PM

My eyes!!!....rushed out screaming...

Wiinterfang @ Jan 6th 2009 1:06PM

Ew there's Oil everywhere, I'm out of here.

*slips*

Marty @ Jan 6th 2009 1:28PM

That's... that's not oil.

Vol @ Jan 6th 2009 12:05PM

That's a lot of friggin' plastic.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 6th 2009 12:08PM

At this rate, I don't think that the PS3 will ever catch the 360 sales.

The PS3 is still 8 millions behind, and the gap just decreased less than a million.

And it's actually a good thing. The 360 and PS3 are very comparable machines graphically speaking, and the only advantage that the PS3 has over the 360 is the Bluray player, but as a gaming machine, the 360 gives you a better experience than the PS3 for a much lower price.

Good sales for a very good system.

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 6th 2009 12:13PM

I am in total concurence with ^ statement.

xFenixKnightx (In Memory of Benjamin Carmine RIP) @ Jan 6th 2009 12:20PM

Fernando FTW!

"At this rate, I don't think that the PS3 will ever catch the 360 sales."

Yeah its not happening. Not saying Sony needs to pack it in or anything, I'm just saying Sony Fanboys need to pack it in. :P

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 6th 2009 12:23PM

And the Bluray advantage over the 360 is only in the movie playback, and not in gaming.

I mean... MGS4, according to Konami, is 32GB (not 50GB). So, a game of the size of MGS4 could be possible on the 360 with four discs... but... just imagine if MGS4 was ported to 360: 4 discs, each disc containing 2 Chapters... you just have to change the disc once every two chapters, and it will take less than 30 seconds. That's less time... very little time compared to the time it takes the PS3 to install the data between each chapter.

Even the PS3 mandatory installs are to make the PS3 loading times comparable to the 360 loading times... comparable, and not better.

Duke @ Jan 6th 2009 12:23PM

I gotta admit though, I have been using my PS3 more and more lately. I like the machine. Whether its behind in sales forever doesn't matter as long as the devs keep making good titles.

xFenixKnightx (In Memory of Ben Carmine RIP) @ Jan 6th 2009 12:28PM

Blasphemy, Duke! BLASPHEMY!!!

:P

anonim1979 @ Jan 6th 2009 12:29PM

@Fernando Rocker

30GB
AND that is MGS4 + MGO

Put MGO on one DVD, throw out PS3 firmware upgrade (250MB), (theoretical) instalation files/repeated files put on BD to speed up slow bluray access time etc.

Meybe do separate language versions - ie. only englisg , only french, etc.

And it will take at most 2 DVDs if not ONE.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 6th 2009 12:31PM

anonim1979

And not only that. MGS4 has several hours of unlooped and uncompressed radio static sound. I mean... why? Just to fill the Bluray disc?

That's completely unnecesary.

Duke @ Jan 6th 2009 12:37PM

Fenix, I figured that would shock you. :P

Cellien @ Jan 6th 2009 12:52PM

There is nothing in MGS4 that made me think wow, Blu-Ray gaming is the future. Unless you consider uncompressed 90 min cutscenes as gaming or even necessary.

xFenixKnightx (In Memory of Ben Carmine RIP) @ Jan 6th 2009 1:07PM

MS E309: "MGS4: Weapons of the Patriots Subsistance available Holiday 09' on Xbox 360!!!"

ZOMGICANFINALLYHAZMGS4ONMY360WTFBBQ?!!!!!!!

:P

Wiinterfang @ Jan 6th 2009 1:08PM

Good to have you on our side Fernado...I have wii on my user name so you and me are the same brother, thanks for joining the Light side.

Tiptup300 @ Jan 6th 2009 1:11PM

pfft, Why the hell wouldn't my radio static be in 5.1? Think fernando!

zero2dash @ Jan 6th 2009 1:25PM

@ Fernando

"but as a gaming machine, the 360 gives you a better experience than the PS3 for a much lower price."

Not when you factor in the cost of Live @ $50 a year, compared to the PSN being free.

I like both systems equally, but I am very happy that I can play over the PSN for free which is the reason I've let my Xbox Live subscription expire.

eNrique @ Jan 6th 2009 1:40PM

Well considering almost everyone has AT least 2 360's(like me, 1 rrod and the other a ticking bomb) and 5+live accounts it's not really a surprise.
And again, NO MGS4 can not be ported to 360 on 4 Dvd's, and MGO is part of MGS4, so it is really 50 Gb, even Kojima said that the space was insufficient to what he wanted to create, get over this bots really.

And I am sure you haven't played the Metal Gear Solid Series, have you?

"and the only advantage that the PS3 has over the 360 is the Bluray player"
Ever tried Linux?
Well I guess bots are not that smart, not even to use a linux distro, that's so sad.
Also is the free Online Network, Bluetooth headset compatibility, Mouse/keyboard support, Web browsing, Wi-Fi out of the box, and the best of all rrod-free. :)

and bots still don't get this Sales=/=Best Console
Just look this year, the PlayStation 3 had the best software lineup this year.
Like it or not.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43916.html

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/27/meta-metareview-the-best-reviewed-games-of-2008/

And the PS3 being just 8 million units behind 360, I really doubt it, again how many of those 360' are broken?
and the US=/=World
The good thing about the PS3 price is that I never encounter ****in rednecks or screaming 12-year old kids on PSN.

Marty @ Jan 6th 2009 1:37PM

With a $259 Xbox 360, you'd have to pay for three years of Live before you caught up to the price of a PS3. That's not that bad.

Hala Madrid!! (Somebody get me a tie! And it sure as hell better be red!) @ Jan 6th 2009 1:40PM

LOL @ zero2dash for choosing PSN over Xboxlive.

XboxLive FTW!

Matthew @ Jan 6th 2009 1:52PM

@ eNrique

Dude I have a PS3 and love playing the thing but PSN is totally not even on the same level as XBL connection issues, servers down, and just plain bad service, which has all been chronicled here on Joystiq and other websites everytime they released a "killer app" like LBP and if you are referring to Home, you might not run into any rednecks or 12 year old kids, but all it is is a bunch of fucking losers who run and I mean run to any female in Home and try and talk dirty to them and/or dance, I gladly pay $50 not to have to deal with that

Alien Lord @ Jan 6th 2009 1:55PM

@eNrique have you tried applying at Sony for a position in their spin doctor department?

Wiinterfang @ Jan 6th 2009 1:59PM

eNrique looks like the quintessential PS3 user.

anonim1979 @ Jan 6th 2009 2:01PM

@Nrique

BR with MGS4 is ~30GB

Proof:
http://i32.tinypic.com/2b1574.jpg

THERE IS SECOND GAME ON DISC - MGO.
And MGO can be really really easy on standalone DVD.

There is system update (0,25GB)
There are (probably) repeated files for speed up loading/installs/uncompressed audio data/etc.

MGS4 is also SUB-HD game - no problem to port it to X360 with its stronger GPU.

Metal Gear Solid 4 - 1024x768 = 786,432 pixels (Full 720p - 1280x720 = 921,600 pixels)

http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1174920&postcount=226

With a averange framerate below 30fps:
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1180399&postcount=103

So what a problem - multiplatform games are in more than 90% case better on X360...

eNrique @ Jan 6th 2009 2:16PM

Matthew
"PSN is totally not even on the same level as XBL connection issues, servers down, and just plain bad service"
Really?, you mean being down for the complete holiday season? Even that you PAID for it, Too bad I didn't notice.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/xbox-live-outage-day-13-still-up-and-down-still-preventing-fu/

And NO, I am not referring to Home, since i really don't give a crap about it...
like some other hypocrites

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/12/31/ernst-and-young-microsoft-to-use-home-to-hold-virtual-meetings/

by the way I want to catch up a little bit, but what's on catalog for 360 as exclusive for the 1st 2 quarters of 2009, DLC, DLC, and more DLC???

=Lord Negatron of the XBots= @ Jan 6th 2009 2:06PM

eNrique! *waves you over*

You used some disturbing terminology that triggered my sensorz. "Linux and WiFi out the box". 2 things a "gamer" is not concerned with.
W-wait... Did you say LINUX? WiFi?

** WAITING ON YOUR OPPONENT (29-28-26...) **

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE!!!
-thanks Zax-

Duke @ Jan 6th 2009 2:11PM

eNrique you shouldn't criticize others for not being smart when you think that selling multiple units to 1 customer is a bad thing. If they choose to have 2 then that's great for MS. Also, the rrod units don't come into play as you could send those in for repair. The replacements are not counted as sales. So really, your argument is desperate looking as all hell.

Also, I use PSN and you are full of sh*t if you don't hear a bunch of 12 year olds talking smack on there as well.

eNrique @ Jan 6th 2009 2:16PM

anonim
"THERE IS SECOND GAME ON DISC - MGO."
There is no 2nd game on the BD, it's part of MGS4.
Thet's like saying Halo 3 multiplayer is a 2nd game on the halo 3 dvd.
And I forgot to mention Matthew;
"but all it is is a bunch of fucking losers who run and I mean run to any female in Home and try and talk dirty to them and/or dance, I gladly pay $50 not to have to deal with that"
You know you don't have to deal with it, since it's a beta app, a no one is forcing you to enter, but if you prefer to pay $50 to not enter, I crearly understand.

eNrique @ Jan 6th 2009 2:29PM

Duke
You missed the point, I am not saying it's bad for ms to sell multiple units to 1 consumer, even they said in an interview that they were making a great bussines with 360 accesories (wi-fi, wireless headsets, HDD's) and they knew that peaple were buying 360 just to switch from component to HDMI, so no it's not a bad thing for microsoft, but it is for us, consumers.
And rroud units do come into play, you will be surprised how many people have rrod'd 360's, because they voided the warranty, most of us to make the 12 watt fan mod, trying to prevent the rrod.
So I kinda feel cheated, just my opinion.

Haggard @ Jan 6th 2009 2:37PM

I really like Sony's first-party games, but the PS3 should not be the way it is. Blu-Ray was too early, and the Cell was a step backwards when it comes to getting multiplatforms and studios on your side.

I don't think better online functionality sells consoles (at least not the majority of them), but there's obviously a market for it given the people paying XBL subs.

Matthew @ Jan 6th 2009 3:22PM

eNrique,

Hey man look you are absolutely right about the outage last year, I remember it well and many of us do, and for the trouble we got a free XBL game, which yeah isn't much, but what has Sony done for all of us PSN users that can't get online to play just about every major release this year for the first few days......nothing they don't even try to care thats my point and yeah I tried Home because it was supposed to be a XBL killer app and all that and it wasn't, I am sure that you were one of the people that said that but we will never know because for some strange reason your profile is private, you afraid that we might all find out what you have said before, I mean hell even Killjebus has his profile public

As for releases I am not going to do the whole stupid list, there are plenty of games coming out this year for both systems, your argument is old and stale

Hala Madrid!! (Somebody get me a tie! And it sure as hell better be red!) @ Jan 6th 2009 4:13PM

The PS3 is gonna be in THIRD place this generation, there, end of the discussion.

zero2dash @ Jan 6th 2009 4:33PM

@ Hala
"LOL @ zero2dash for choosing PSN over Xboxlive.

XboxLive FTW!"

You show me one thing Live has that the PSN doesn't have (other than making you pay for it). Oh wait, you can't, because they both have the same stuff.

You fail.

When you grow up and get a job and can afford both consoles and you actually have time on the Ps3, you'll know why. Until then keep your fanboy comments to yourself. kthxbai

Hala Madrid!! (Somebody get me a tie! And it sure as hell better be red!) @ Jan 6th 2009 5:00PM

@zero2dash

"You show me one thing Live has that the PSN doesn't have (other than making you pay for it). Oh wait, you can't, because they both have the same stuff"

Well, lots of things, but I really don't have the time to tell you what all those things are.

"When you grow up and get a job and can afford both consoles and you actually have time on the Ps3, you'll know why"

Actually, I own all three consoles, and I do play my PS3 and I like the games, especially MGS4 and Resistance 2, but I don't think that is the best console out there. I hate PSN because I don't get the same experience that I get in XboxLive. And yes, I do have a job and I can afford to buy all three consoles, games and a 12 month XboxLive membership.

Sorry, but the PS3 IS in third place this generation.

nealbailey @ Jan 6th 2009 5:57PM

"I mean... MGS4, according to Konami, is 32GB (not 50GB). So, a game of the size of MGS4 could be possible on the 360 with four discs... but... just imagine if MGS4 was ported to 360: 4 discs, each disc containing 2 Chapters"

Right except MGS4 isn't a game, its a movie (and a really long, boring one at that).

=Lord Negatron of the XBots= @ Jan 6th 2009 10:56PM

@ neilbailey

You don't like watching genius little girls cook eggs all fucked up, while blabbing your ears off for 30 minutes every 5 minutes? LOL

Your weird...

;)

eNrique @ Jan 7th 2009 12:43PM

Matthew said:
"As for releases I am not going to do the whole stupid list, there are plenty of games coming out this year for both systems, your argument is old and stale"

Another retarded* said:
"You show me one thing Live has that the PSN doesn't have (other than making you pay for it). Oh wait, you can't, because they both have the same stuff"

Well, lots of things, but I really don't have the time to tell you what all those things are.

I was clearly optimistic about Sony's PlayStation 3 until these 2 geniuses showed me the light.
:)

*madrileño