Microsoft Sells 10 Million Xbox 360s in US

Associated Press

NEW YORK - The Xbox 360, Microsoft Corp.'s gaming console, has sold more than 10 million units in the U.S. through April, the company said Wednesday.

But it was already close to this number a month earlier, having sold 9.9 million units as of the end of March, according to market researcher NPD Group.

Microsoft noted that the console hit this milestone ahead of its rivals - Nintendo's Wii and Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3. But it also had more time, having launched a full year ahead of both.

As of the end of March, the latest figures available from the NPD Group, the Wii had sold 8.8 million units in the U.S. and the PS3, 4.1 million.

Microsoft is calling the milestone a crucial one. Judging by previous generations of gaming systems, "the first console to hit 10 million wins," said Aaron Greenberg, director of product management at Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. Launching a year earlier, he added, "was part of our strategy."

Globally, there are about 19 million Xbox 360 users, according to Microsoft. More than 12 million of them use the Xbox Live online service, a figure that has doubled in less than a year, Greenberg said. "Grand Theft Auto IV," he added, is boosting console sales as well as the Xbox Live online community.

There were widespread Xbox 360 supply constraints following the holidays, but Greenberg said this is no longer the case.

"We were happy with our ability to be largely in stock at retail in advance of the GTA launch," he said.

The game, which has sold more than 6 million units worldwide in its first week in stores, hit store shelves on April 29. Because of this, Greenberg said, May will probably be a better gauge on its effect on console sales.

The company did not say how many consoles it expects to sell throughout the rest of the year.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft's shares rose 15 cents to close at $29.93.

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