Microsoft claims 'unprecedented demand' for new Xbox 360

by Alexander Sliwinski on Jul 5th 2010 4:45PM

Although Microsoft didn't provide specific sales figures (per usual), the company claims it's seeing "unprecedented demand" from retailers for its new Xbox 360 console. In a statement released following May's NPD results, Microsoft claimed a "significant sales spike" for its new Xbox 360 250GB "short" model, along with its older Arcade and Elite units (which both received a $50 price reduction).

The new console hit US store shelves around June 14. As for the sales spike's impact on the June NPDs (which will be released next month), Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter stated in his analysis of May's results: "We think that the boost in June hardware sales could allow June software sales to approach flat, notwithstanding a lackluster release schedule."

Xbox 360 Slim

Source: Edge, Industry Gamers

Tags: michael-pachter, microsoft, npd, xbox, xbox-360-s, xbox-360-short, xbox-360-slim

Reader Comments (90)

What I am wondering is when Joystiq will do their promised giveaway for the 360s they were given during E3 :P

@The Harbinger of Pie I've been wondering the same thing.

@The Harbinger of Pie Probably when they get them. The only one who has one, according to the Podcast, is Ludwig.

Got mine at Best Buy early this week. Checked their website, one close to me had one. You can't buy it for in store pickup, but you might get there before they run out. I went and BB had 5 in stock.

I like that they made the headset all black instead of the Elite headset with some grey on it.

I noticed there are four games included, but I thought they were all supposed to be full versions. Is Hexic again the only full version game?

@ DustinF

Like me. I ended up paying more for my 360 than my PS3 to have equivalent features as my PS3.

A step in the right direction, for sure.

I want one so bad, but wasn't planning to buy a console right now (damn you Microsoft).

You'd almost swear people are falling over themselves to get one, since Gamestop doesn't have a single one available within 100 miles of my zip code. But the Best Buy I walked into a little while ago had an entire display full of them.

The moral of the story: Gamestop sucks.

@Lerkero

No, people just always want new technology even if their old one works perfectly fine and does the same thing. This one is just prettier...

Microsoft now knows what Sony has known for many years...cheaper slim models reinvigorate sales. Expect future Xbox's to release slims, just like Playstation does.

@(Unverified) This year starts the Slim Wars..

@(Unverified)

Begun, the Slim Wars have

Are they telling the truth, or are they just creating false excitement for their product? Joystiq should ask the stores instead of just hearing it from Microsoft.

@SubEngy

Only July's NPD can tell that tale...

@ItsameMatt03

you should read this before you start tearing people down. not everyone lives in america

http://www.ebgames.com.au/xbox360-150845-Xbox-360-250GB-Console-Xbox-360

If you're upgrading from a Core/Arcade, your console failed out of warranty, or this is your first Xbox, then I get why you'd pick up a 360 S, but if you have a Pro/Elite that's in working condition or is broken and under warranty, and you buy an S, you're an idiot with too much money on their hands. Period.

Microsoft proclaims, "Hotcakes ain't got shit on us!"

I only got one because mine went all RROD on me the day before it was announced. I'm thinking they sent some kind of virus over Live to kill any out of warranty consoles.

The new Xbox is fine...it's the Kinect I'm worried about. Motion control is something that needs to die now.

Yeah I'm not gonna lie I bought one, even though I already had a Falcon Elite 120GB.

But I did it for two reasons, one; I was able to sell my Elite with a controller and 2 games for a great price, only need to drop $120 to get the new 360.

Two, I despise loud fans, and my Falcon was still pretty loud even though I installed my games on my HD.

To me, it was worth the extra $120 for a much quieter, sexier, and lager capacity 360 since my 120GB was filling up pretty quickly due to the recent marketplace sales and loads of DLC I've been buying.

I'm really rather surprised, since it itself isn't substantially cheaper than what was previously available, though obviously worth more for less with the extra features.

It'll be clearer once the discounted models are gone to see how much demand is really being generated here.

@SecrtAgentMan Add parts? the console comes with a HDD, unless your cheap. okay there's the plug and play kit (I have about 4 by now), I bought a long cat 6 ethernet cable to reach to the other room.. even have my PS3 using a cat 6 as it seems more reliable

The huge mountain of new Xbox 360s didn't seem to be a sign of unprecedented demand when I was at Best Buy earlier today. Add about 10-15 of the ~5 other SKUs they put out this year and there's a shitload of lonely Xbox 360s just waiting for people to adopt them.

@(Unverified)

I live in one of the 10 largest cities in the US, and here at least 5-6 stores were completely sold out.

I checked Gamestop online and it said only like 2-3 stores within a 15 or so mile radius had them. I checked best buy online and they were mostly all sold out. I checked wal-mart online and they were reporting not having many in-store either.

My friend went to every game/electronic store near his house and none of them had it. He had to drive to another part of town just to find one.

News without a million complaints? Sweet.

Even if it has a fn in it big enugh to make it flaot it still manages to fry itself......if the ezy break oven 2.0 was not so cool I could resist buying it >>

What?

@ZippyDSMlee

Translation:
Even if it has a fan in it big enough to float it'll still manage to fry itself. If the easy break oven 2.0 wasn't so cool I could resist buying it (sarcasm: because it's an oven so he needs it hot to bake things).

@Mazrael

I had the Xbox 360 Pro. Upgraded from 60GB HDD to 120GB HDD. Bought the Quick Charge Kit. Bought and extra controller. And I have 2 desktops, 1 laptop, a PS3 and the Xbox 360, why the hell would I want a home all wired? So I bought the overpriced WiFi adapter. I have no problem playing multiplayer wirelessly even while downloading torrents on one of my computer.

In reality, I don't care what the analysts "predict" or the companies "claim". I will let the actual numbers do the talking.

@SecrtAgentMan You don't have to get a new one you know.

I LOVE costco. My old xbox was had this issue where the dvd drive would rattle, and they gave me a full refund. I actually made $50 off of it (the old one was a bundle, the short wasn't)

@(Unverified)

Well, if someone just says dollars($), it's pretty much assumed it's US dollars.

I got one this weekend and its great. I already have 3 other 360s all different revisions. This is by far the best one, its extremely quiet and the hard drive is a very nice plus. I definately recommend it to anyone in the market for a 360, even though the old versions are really cheap this is a total win.

I'm not in a huge rush, but I do want to pick one up at some point to expand to the 250gb from my 120.

By "unprecedented" they mean it's the first 360 model where the majority of people don't say "I'll believe it if they don't all burn up within the next 6 months."

people are clamoring for an unbroken xbox? shocker.

Totally believe that the demand for them is crazy high. Wasn't until this past Saturday that I even saw one on store shelves at Best Buy.

I'm taking advantage of the trade in deal GameStop is offering for getting the new system by trading in your old one. The GameStop closest to my house told me two weekends ago that they were BARRED from taking any more pre-orders. Thankfully a GameStop only about 5 miles further away was still taking them, but that Friday was the last day. Now I just need to wait for a phone call to tell me my system is in.

It's pretty damn cool, but it doesn't offer me anything I don't already have on my current 360, so I'm not gonna upgrade now. Maybe if I RROD again.

I've got a Jasper model with a 250GB hard drive. It's pretty quiet. I'd need to hear the new one in action before I'd consider switching. If it's totally silent, then sure; I'm interested. Otherwise, the Jasper is fine.

I still haven't heard whether or not the HD-DVD drive works with the new model. I still use mine, and I'm not keen on giving it up.

If only they'd of made the original 360 to the same spec in the first place..

Take the first incarnations of the Wii and PS3 for example, no noisy fans, built in Wifi, sleek design.

I'm in no rush to buy it, what with the 720 no less than 1 or 2 years!!!

Previous 50 Comments

Microsoft claims 'unprecedented demand' for new Xbox 360

Xbox 360 Slim

Reader Comments (90)

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 5:34PM The Harbinger of Pie said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 5:41PM hxczuner said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 5:49PM Deezul AwT said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 5:43PM Ballistic H said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 5:45PM Daugon said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 6:11PM Starcade said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 6:19PM False said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 6:19PM TraceurRyuk Prepping for LBP2 said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 6:28PM incendious said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 8:04PM Mazrael said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 9:52PM The Tim said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 6:37PM SubEngy said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 7:25PM LoneWolf18 said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 6:43PM eat it said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 6:44PM kenny goo said

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Posted: Jul 5th 2010 7:02PM mattcoz said

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Posted: Jul 5th 2010 7:18PM BoBsS said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 7:37PM Mr Khan said

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Posted: Jul 5th 2010 8:55PM ZippyDSMlee said

Posted: Jul 5th 2010 10:09PM KingOfGods said

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Posted: Jul 5th 2010 10:16PM Ballistic H said

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Posted: Jul 5th 2010 11:09PM ItsameMatt03 said

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Posted: Jul 5th 2010 11:38PM QuePasa87 said

Posted: Jul 6th 2010 6:03AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 6th 2010 8:17AM favian said

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