Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg touts holiday exclusives, 360 sales growth in down economy

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 16th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Namedropping exclusives from Halo 3: ODST to Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City to Shadow Complex, as well as reaffirming Microsoft's "year-to-date growth in console sales compared to last year," Microsoft's director of product management Aaron Greenberg sounds extremely confident in the Xbox 360 (that's his job, right?). Thankfully, he's not always above admitting when his competitors are going to win. "When NPD releases September sales later today, we fully expect PlayStation 3 will come in as the console with the most units sold for the month," he tells Game Informer in a recent interview.

Unsurprisingly, though, he's sanguine on the prospect of Microsoft's console beating out Sony's. "We remain confident that Xbox 360 will not only outsell PS3 for the full calendar year, but for this entire generation." His confidence wanes though when asked about beating Apple with the Zune HD, offering only, "Our strategy has always been to completely focus on delivering the best games and entertainment experience in the living room and not get distracted by anything else." Gotta know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, right?

[Image credit: gamerscore]

Tags: aaron-greenberg, business, console-sales, episodes-from-liberty-city, game-informer, halo-3-odst, microsoft, sales, shadow-complex, zune-hd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

TriviumSuffocationTheBlackDahliaMurderLambOfGod @ Oct 16th 2009 1:34PM

While I love all of these, one can be seen as a large expansion, the other can be seen as lare DLC, and the other is an arcade game. I own all of this, except TBOGT, which isn't out yet, but I'll be getting it this month. It just seems that they don't have that one special game, ya know?

Luckily, 2010 is looking quite nice for 360 with Mass Effect 2, Alan Wake, Crackdown 2, Halo Reach, etc.

The 360 has brought me many great moments and I loved ODST and SHadow Complex. Great titles. But I don't think they're killer apps for people who are on the fence.

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 16th 2009 1:40PM

Xbox did had some great arcade games this summer.

copa @ Oct 16th 2009 1:43PM

I agree that there is nothing mindblowing on Microsoft's holiday release schedule, outside of multiplatform games.

But from a sales standpoint, I can see why Aaron Greenberg is pretty happy. The 360 has four blockbuster exclusives this holiday season: ODST, GTA Episodes, Left 4 Dead 2, and Forza 3. Sony only has Uncharted 2 (yes, we know that Demon's Souls and R&C are cool; no they are not sales blockbusters).

Microsoft will still be eating Nintendo's dust between New Super Marios, Wii Fit Plus, and Wii Sports Resort, but they seem to be pretty content with a strong second.

guelth @ Oct 17th 2009 2:19AM

Actually, I haven't though of it until your post, but it does seem like MS has a good 2010 to begin with.

I would bet some sort of Gears of War type Holiday announcement by E3 next year to round out the year.

At this pace they'll have something somewhat significant for each month next year.

Now, I think this year's Summer of Arcade will be tough to outdo next year.

Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 16th 2009 2:19PM

Sorry, but I downvoted you simply cause of your name.

Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 16th 2009 2:24PM

Sony has a good lineup next year too, GOW III, Gran Turismo (Maybe), and all the good multi-plats

superklye @ Oct 16th 2009 2:34PM

@Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami)

Right, because yours is such a shining example of what a username should be?

iluvmyzune @ Oct 16th 2009 2:41PM

dude, u totally forgot forza 3

jahd5000 @ Oct 16th 2009 3:20PM

@ copa

yeah well i guess those are not huge sellers (tho im sure R&C wont sell now, but i will sale A LOT totally ) but thats to be seen actually, not sales bluckbusters because they dont have that of a huge fanbase, but i think those three sony games are all in all better than 360s... after all what i care about is quality,not sales.

i dunno, demons sould could surprise, after all the publicity reviews and gamers gave it by launch, it may end up selling decently well (maybe by march next year or something), i myself will buy it Q1 2010 if not now.

johnnynumber5 @ Oct 16th 2009 3:39PM

@Copa

So Ratchet and clank, god of war re-release & final fantasy 13 won't push units? Riiiiiight.

Is anyone still playing GTA IV?

You also gotta consider that PS3 will have it's best holiday sales ever so presumably we could see an uptick in sales of already released exclusives like KZ2, Motorstorm PR, Resistance 2, MGS 4, Infamous etc ... Just food for thought with Wii & 360 sales stalled and PS3 sales rising.

oolz @ Oct 16th 2009 3:46PM

The 360 and it's XBL counterpart are a fantastic team. Imagine how good it would be doing had it not ahd the hardware issues. They're doing a fantastic job of getting good games and expanding the platform that is XBL. I can't count the number of times that the wife and I are bored and we'll just go browsing XBL for something to do. It's literally our first stop for random entertainment, which says a lot about what they're doing.

Copa: Microsoft and Sony don't care about the Wii. They'd like to have those sales numbers sure, but the majority of those potentials sales wouldn't come their way even if the Wii never existed. It's like calling Hyundai and Porsche competitors.

joeythehobo @ Oct 16th 2009 1:34PM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Abbey Road® for The Beatles®:Rock Band® coming out next week?

/leftovers

TriviumSuffocationTheBlackDahliaMurderLambOfGod @ Oct 16th 2009 1:35PM

*large

Geist @ Oct 16th 2009 1:35PM

There are some decent 360 exclusives out for the holiday season, but Playstation's lineup is just way too strong to be beaten.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 16th 2009 1:37PM

like what? I'm not trying to start flame wars I'm just admittedly ignorant of their lineup this year outside of Uncharted and Ratchet.

Geist @ Oct 16th 2009 1:42PM

Understood.

Actually, now that I look them up, many of the games I'm thinking of have been delayed (MAG, Heavy Rain, White Knight Chronicles, etc), unfortunately. Though I'd like to mention Demon's Souls as a great title.

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 16th 2009 1:43PM

Good question, I know they had a great year with inFAMOUS, Killzone and now Uncharted but what exactly is going to come out in the next months?

Geist @ Oct 16th 2009 1:44PM

Katmari Forever is also awesome. It's already come out, but then so has Shadow Complex and Halo, both which the article mentions.

dogmaticatheist @ Oct 16th 2009 1:45PM

God of War Collection.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 16th 2009 1:55PM

so there's no huge mega hits left this year? : (

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 16th 2009 1:58PM

This year sucks, I wanted to get my hands on some Bayonetta and Alpha protocol, maybe rent Bioshock 2.

Jack Tretton @ Oct 16th 2009 1:59PM

"[S]o there's no huge mega hits left this year?"

Multiplats, yes. Liberty City Stories and GoW Collection will probably move quite a few pieces.

Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 16th 2009 2:16PM

MW2?

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 2:19PM

I've got it, and I love it, but Melty Blood still holds a special place in my heart. Arcueid FTW.

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 2:20PM

That was meant for R.

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 16th 2009 1:36PM

I got my 360 this gear and I haven't regret it, I'm kinda mad because all the games I was intersted got delayed till next year but it gives me time to experience all the great games that got released before.

Anybody recommend me some good cheap,cheap,really cheap games.

Geist @ Oct 16th 2009 1:43PM

Depends what genre you like. Mass Effect should be pretty cheap at this point. Viva Pinata is a really fun (and surprisingly deep) game as well. Tales of Vesperia, I dunno what the price on that is nowadays, but Lost Odyssey should be pretty cheap now.

uncle jesse @ Oct 16th 2009 1:49PM

You got some catching up to do. It's kind of nice getting into later though because of all the great, discounted games. I just got my PS3 and I'm having fun going back to games I missed and getting them cheap.

There's lots of games out there now that are decent and cheap.
These are some of the better ones:
Crackdown, Gears, Ghost Recon 1&2, Dead Rising, Condemned 1&2, Orange Box, Mass Effect, Halo 3.

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 1:49PM

In my neck of the woods, Vesperia is still $60. If you like shooters, Gears of War 2 has a really sharp campaign, and Horde is a blast.

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 16th 2009 1:56PM

I'm playing on getting online soon but I'll won't have it for at least late November or next gear so games with a large campaign or lots of singleplayer replay value ( like RE5) would be appreciated :D.

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 1:59PM

Tales of Vesperia is sublime. I'd also recommend Lost Odyssey and, like I said earlier, Gears 2. The campaign, with the exception of the vehicle segment, is great.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 16th 2009 2:08PM

since no one has mentioned it, get Oblivion if you didnt have it on PS3 or PC. really an incredible experience. Also Fallout 3, although I'd give the two some space, maybe a month or two between.

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 2:23PM

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is pretty good, too. It's a dungeon crawler, but nothing beats seeing Thor send about ten guys flying.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 16th 2009 2:25PM

Also don't pass up The Darkness, that's a real gem. Just ignore the multiplayer though. Splinter Cell double agent was great too, or just get Chaos Theory from Games on Demand when you get Live. Dont forget Fable 2 either, or the original Saints Row, and the Condemned games are good too.

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 2:27PM

Riddick is great fun, too.

Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 16th 2009 2:31PM

Don't you have a PS3 too? If you do get Valkyria Chronicles, great game.

Caveman @ Oct 16th 2009 10:31PM

This is EXACTLY why the Xbox will continue to outsell the PS3. Because there are soo soo many great Xbox 360 games out there and for bargain bin prices. With the arcade selling for $199 and games as low as $10 at Best Buy, why wouldn't you want to get your kid the Xbox 360 this Christmas!

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 16th 2009 10:32PM

Goddamn those are lots of games, I don't have a PS3 as of now I only have a DS and an Xbox 360, maybe I'll pick up Mario and Sonic at the Winter olympics for the DS, also First person shooters scare me. ( not the games but the experience is foreign to me and I find myself lose in the controls)

Premature ejaculation man @ Oct 17th 2009 12:08AM

Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts. At least give it a rent. Its the best

Trace @ Oct 16th 2009 1:37PM

...Lukems?

Harbl @ Oct 16th 2009 2:17PM

What the hell is Luke Smith doing nowadays? I miss the Scarab Lord :(

Trace @ Oct 16th 2009 2:23PM

Yeah he went to Bungie and we heard him on the podcast every so often but...I miss the era of 1Up Yours while he was on....it was amazing.

tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 16th 2009 1:44PM

I hope he's only talking about sales, cause the quality of the ps3 exclusives is much better this fall than 360. Uncharted 2, Ratchet, Demon's Souls and God of War Collection (with the demo of 3) is much much better than another racer, another FPS, and....a downloadable title? Didn't know we were counting those now, although Shadow Complex is amazing.

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 1:50PM

I thought GOW Collection was delayed.

tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 16th 2009 1:51PM

That was a rumor or some bad info, cause the guy who runs PSN confirmed it's still on track for fall. Gamestop did push it back from November 10th, to the 17th though.

So yeah I guess technically it was delayed :P

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 1:54PM

Bastards.

Solace @ Oct 16th 2009 1:57PM

yeah in 2010 Sony's lineup is going to be pretty steady with exclusives coming out every few months starting with MAG in January.

Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 16th 2009 2:02PM

I want more niche fighters on both major systems. I'd love to see a downloadable version of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure or Melty Blood.

David @ Oct 16th 2009 2:14PM

we can't count the exclusive DLC for the best selling game so far this generation (GTAIV's Ballad of Gay Tony), but you get to count old PS2 games (God of War collection)?

don't get me wrong, i'm excited for the god of war collection, but your logic in counting one and not the other makes no sense whatsoever to me.