Xbox 360 hits 300k mark down under

Microsoft has unveiled the latest update on how its next-generation console is faring in Australia. According to Microsoft, 306,000 Xbox 360s have now been sold in Australia, with more than two million games also sold since the console's launch in March 2006.

Unfortunately, Microsoft did not provide a specific console-sales figure just for the calendar year of 2007. However, going from previously published figures from industry tracker GfK Australia for the second and third quarters of 2007, as well as a GameSpot AU interview with top Australian Xbox exec David McLean back at the end of March last year, it seems that as many as 160,000 Xbox 360s were sold in Australia in 2007 (and up to 80,000 in the final quarter of the year alone). By comparison, Sony's PlayStation 3 has sold 155,000 units down under since its release in March 2007. Nintendo has yet to officially release its latest console-sales figures for Australia.

Microsoft can also lay claim to having the highest-selling console game for all of 2007 in Australia, thanks to Halo 3. The latest adventures of the Master Chief sold 120,000 copies locally, which means that roughly one in three 360 owners own a copy of Halo 3. The other top sellers in the 360 library for 2007 were Call of Duty 4, Assassin's Creed, Gears of War, and Forza Motorsport 2.