Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has reached a historic landmark- it’s become only the fifth console in history to have sold 50 million units worldwide. In the process, it has set several other records, with Kinect being what is possibly the fastest selling and most successful video game console peripheral ever, selling 8 million units in 60 days, handily beating the 5 million estimates that Microsoft had made, and that the cynics had called too optimistic.
In addition, Xbox Live continues to grow, with 30 million users worldwide now. Keep in mind that the service isn’t even offered in all countries the Xbox 360 is sold in, and not all Xbox 360 consoles are online. Achieving a penetration rate of more than 50% in this context speaks volumes.
Other Microsoft success stories include Windows 7, which is now selling upwards of seven copies per second, with a marketshare that now stands at 20% of the total.
For us gamers, though, the success story of the Xbox 360 is doubtless what will matter the most- in selling so many units, and doing so at a profit, and achieving the kind of brand penetration and recognition that it has speaks volumes. The system now joins the Playstation 2, the Playstation, Wii, and NES in an elite league. Here’s looking to the next 50 million Xbox 360 sales!
[Gamespot]
