Xbox 360 hits 300k mark down under

More than 300,000 Xbox 360s now sold in Australia; Halo 3 top-selling game for 2007.

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.

34 Comments

  • BontraXenderKyl

    Posted Jan 27, 2008 9:57 am PT

    of course xbox360 rocks, because it's cheaper and better(not graphically)

  • darkride66

    Posted Jan 23, 2008 7:41 am PT

    Agermemnon asked "man where do you get your numbers from?"
    vgchartz.com, like I said. These number are easily verified. I'm not trying to come off as a PS3 fanboy while I point this out, I think there's room in the market for all 3 consoles, and I'm lucky enough to own all 3 personally. My point is to bring a little reality to the PS3 doomsayers. I think those who are still on the fence, and there's a lot of them out there, deserve info that can help them make an informed decision. Why would you sink any money into a console that doesn't look like it will last? You wouldn't. The reality is the PS3 is doing well worldwide, there are great developers behind it and it's only a year old. That's quite a different picture than what the usual X-Box rabble crows at the top of their lungs. These consoles wars are bunk.

  • GrimBee

    Posted Jan 23, 2008 4:31 am PT

    "simple maths for you fanboys
    360 has been out 21 months and has sold 306,000 units
    ps3 has been out 9 months and has sold 155,000 units"

    .....
    You do realise that when a console is released, they won't all get the same sales figures in the same time-span... right?

    The 360 came out when the last gen systems were still selling well, microsoft did this so they could establish their online service for a year first, and to get games on the shelves and developers in their pockets ready to invest for the eventual jump to next gen.

    Microsoft used the year before the ps3 launch as a means to set up camp. Think of it like that.

    The real life of the 360 begun the christmas after (when gears of war was released).

    Gears of war came out, it blew people away and its STILL one of the best looking games around even a year after its launch.
    The 360 isn't a year younger, microsoft just put it out early to get their feet on the ground and know what the consumer wants. And when geow came out, thats when it started the ignition.

    This way, big titles like gears of war will sell millions of copies on its launch, instead of selling a few hundred thousand because people are unsure about a new launched console.

    For example - gears of war sold like 4 million copies in just a few months or something. It would of never of done that on a console launch. THAT is the day the life of the 360 began. And the 360 has sold so well because of the games and microsofts ability to adapt to the ever-changing market.
    Because of this strategy (having a steady userbase before getting out the big-guns) big developers are willing to spend their time and money and games on the 360 because of the guaranteed sales.

    Developers now can release a 360 game without fear of losing money, the amount of users etc means that every developer will profit.
    One thing you forgot to mention is how many games were sold over christmas between the 360 and the ps3.

    The time is NOW, and developers are looking to sell their products NOW - if I was a developer, i would put the 360 at the top of my money-making list.
    Face it, microsofts strategy worked - whether you believe the 360 being a year older than the ps3 or not.

    What counts is the now. And literally the 360 sells far more games, and last time i checked - people buy consoles for games.

    Last christmas when geow came out, it sold like 4 million copies in just a few months.
    In march, when the ps3 is a year old, if mgs 4 sells 4 million in a few months - i will take off my hat in honour. But I doubt that this will happen.

  • Agermemnon

    Posted Jan 23, 2008 2:53 am PT

    @darkride ? man where do you get your numbers from ? let me guess when asleep .

  • darkride66

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 1:58 pm PT

    LosDaddie pointedly pointed out "What the PS3 Fanboys don't realize is that Sony's console-dominance is at end!!"
    What? Based on these numbers? Hardly. In fact the PS3 has now pulled ahead of the 360 in lifetime sales for the Pal regions and Japan, and that's only after being on the market for 9 months in Europe (you can verify on vgchartz.com). You can be sure developers are taking note at how quickly the PS3 has taken off. Unless you're talking about the Wii, in which case yes. Yes, the dominance is over.

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 11:56 am PT

    What the PS3 Fanboys don't realize is that Sony's console-dominance is at end!!

    The PS3 will be lucky to retain 50% of the PS2's userbase.

  • Azhar85

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 9:04 am PT

    we will see about that

  • SaL_92 posted Jan 22, 2008 2:33 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    SaL_92

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 2:33 am PT (hide)

    the ps3 will sell more in 08 because of the better games.

  • Rowr14

    Posted Jan 22, 2008 12:33 am PT

    "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."

    160,000 to 155,000

    Didnt realise it was as close as that. wow cant believe so many people put up with missing all the greatest games last year by purchasing a ps3. Not to mention the ridiculous cost here.

    You would think the smart thing to do would be to purchase a 360 last year, enjoy a slew of awesome games. Then wait for this year to pick up a ps3 when it price drops and some cool games finally arrive, not to mention dual shock 3. (sixaxis is total bull).

    I cant imagine if id picked up a sony instead of an xbox last year, i would have felt so freakin ripped off while staring at a doorstop while i missed out on, Gow, Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, Forza2.

    Im not console biased, I enjoy all games, and am impressed with the ps3 hardware. But honestly, It would just not be intelligent to pickup a ps3 yet.

    Buying a ps3 at this point would be for just the sake of having one. (aside from drakes fortune).

    Like i said im not biased. I own a Sony HDTV, a PSP and my car audio is sony. It would fit nicely for me to have one, and i will eventually. But its all about the games. (And the cost.)

  • Tebbit

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 8:53 pm PT

    Everyone has a 300 ft shlong down under.
    Its just the way things are.

    I personally own a PS3, but any console sold is $700 odd towards developing better games I guess.
    Whats with all the PS3 vs Xbox 360 talk? The PS3 is eventually going to level out sales with the 360, but lord only knows who will end up in front, so just gloat when it happens, not beforehand because thats just silly.

    Sir Edmund Hillary FTW.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:54 pm PT

    Xbox 360 has a 300 ft long shlong down under?

    HOLY!

    XD

  • fmprodguy

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 6:27 pm PT

    Luke-9493...

    FYI: Just doing that math makes you a fanboy.

  • shredicalous

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 6:14 pm PT

    more people pickin up a console the better.

  • luke-9493 posted Jan 21, 2008 2:17 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    luke-9493

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 2:17 pm PT (hide)

    simple maths for you fanboys
    360 has been out 21 months and has sold 306,000 units
    ps3 has been out 9 months and has sold 155,000 units

    360 = 306,000/21 = 14.57 the units sold to months on shelves ratio is 14.57:1
    ps3 = 155,000/9 = 17.22 the units sold to months on shelves ratio is 17.22:1

    so there you have it, in australia the ps3 is more popular but who cares, stop fighting about this and go play games.

    FANBOYS MAKE ME SICK

  • Sydwynder

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 2:01 pm PT

    Is that all? I thought it would be more. Truth be told though, I don't even know how many people live in Australia.......

  • imortiferus

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 12:57 pm PT

    Maersyndel said:
    "Hole **** 360 is in big trouble in 08."

    Ummm... According to the NPD, you know the group that tracks all sales, not shipments... it's has been outselling the PS3 pretty much everywhere and has widened that gap in late 2007 (Sony sold less than 800k vs 360's 1.4 million just in december alone). 360 has 3.5 times a larger user base and will have the best version of GTA 4, along with a few other surprises... So, I think Sony is really the one in trouble here since, 2008 is their last shot at catching up...

  • ctg867

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 11:01 am PT

    I think we can take for granted that Europe, excluding the UK, is a Sony continent. Much of Asia prefers Nintendo, with a good amount of Sony in there as well. While the US is a very mixed basket. 300k and 155k isn't enough to say anything about AU. Glad to see gaming is growing there though.

  • ctifer1

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 10:34 am PT

    @destructo: "PS3 has sold 155k In half the time. Never thought the PS3 was as popular here.....guess I was wrong."

    Hmm, half the sales in half the time. Odd that you think that's such a bad statement on 360 sales.

  • Livewirez

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 9:40 am PT

    I really don't see how the ps3 is more popular that the xbox 360, it looks to me that the ps3 has sold half of 360 sales in half the time, which pretty much makes sense because to me that looks like the ps3 is doing just slighlty better than the 360 did in it's first year and that is because it's the second year of next gen consoles and more people started making their minds up about which console they wanted.

  • Lazdude

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 8:07 am PT

    Looks like a fairly balanced next-gen market so far, which I believe is suitable for such a small user base.

  • KhanhAgE

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:56 am PT

    Wow. Interesting. This just shows how well the PS3 is doing here, considering the exuberant price tag.

    'XJRockcrawler' learn to comprehend data please. Like seriously.

  • Maersyndel posted Jan 21, 2008 7:50 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Maersyndel

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:50 am PT (hide)

    Hole **** 360 is in big trouble in 08.

  • destructo888

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:23 am PT

    PS3 has sold 155k In half the time. Never thought the PS3 was as popular here.....guess I was wrong.

  • robEZ8

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:15 am PT

    XJRockcrawler, the PS3 sold 155K in 11 months while the 360 sold 306K in 23 months, if anything the PS3 is a tiny bit more popular than the 360 going by the sales rates

  • rockutd

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:12 am PT

    whatver

  • as9332

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 7:07 am PT

    This isnt that bad considering the games in Australia cost around $100USD.

  • XJRockcrawler

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 6:50 am PT

    jasonic3221, they must like the PS3 even less then, since it only sold like half that

  • Mr-7amtoo

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 6:47 am PT

    Good for u 360

  • ThrillhouseLive

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 6:43 am PT

    New Zealanders rulez!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • jasonlc3221

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 6:21 am PT

    Only 300k? I guess the Aussie's don't care for MS or the 360 much.

  • bawathegamer

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 5:57 am PT

    i love the aussies mate

  • theycallmeryan

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 5:52 am PT

    First! Wow, 300,000 units sold in Austrailia.

  • mikefat

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 5:51 am PT

    Ummm First Post?

    Aussies don't like shooting people in the face?!? You'd think they would....

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!