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Nov. 'biggest month in Xbox 360 history' - Microsoft

Despite dip in console sales, Aaron Greenberg says Xbox 360 hardware, software, and accessories sales were a record $838 million--thanks largely to Modern Warfare 2.

Yesterday, the NPD Group reported that US game sales sank 7.6 percent in November when compared to the record-setting sales of 2008. However, Microsoft is claiming that, despite a slight year-on-year dip in unit sales (836,000 vs. 819,500), last month set records for its console business.

Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg.

Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg.

"November was the biggest month in the history of the Xbox 360 business," Xbox 360 director of product management Aaron Greenberg told GameSpot. He declared that $838 million was spent at US retailers on Xbox 360 games, consoles, and accessories--the majority of November's $1.4 billion in domestic non-PC game sales. (With PC retail sales included, that figure rises to $1.46 billion.)

One of the major reasons Microsoft set monthly earnings records was a game not published by Microsoft at all. Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 smashed records during the month, selling more than 6 million units on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The breakdown of the game's sales on those platforms--4.1 million on the 360, 1.87 million on the PS3--added hugely to retail sales of Xbox 360 software.

Speaking with GameSpot, Xbox 360 director of product management Aaron Greenberg pointed out that the Modern Warfare 2 unit totals did not include sales of the $400 limited-edition 250GB Xbox 360 bundle that included the game. Although he declined to say how many units the bundle sold, he did say it was selling so quickly that Microsoft is considering similar bundles with other games in the future. For now, though, no stand-alone 250GB 360 or 250GB hard drive products are planned "at this time."

Unsurprisingly, Greenberg said a key reason for Modern Warfare 2's popularity on the 360 was Xbox Live. The service saw usage records shattered on the game's November 10 launch day, when 5.2 million multiplayer hours were logged. At one point, more than 2 million subscribers were playing the game concurrently, another Xbox Live record.

295 Comments

  • ha2e04

    Posted Jan 1, 2010 6:40 am GMT

    play 360 "it just tastes better"

  • Flint247

    Posted Dec 18, 2009 7:43 pm GMT

    Looking forward to my Xbox 360 in the future. Forget this fanboy garbage.

  • bsnimunf

    Posted Dec 18, 2009 3:14 am GMT

    @ sdbobplissken

    "hows that taste? prolly not as good as Bill Gates rod"

    Let me get this straight you have tasted Bill Gates Rod. What did it taste like, was it cheesy or meaty?

  • daniel_droid

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 10:00 pm GMT

    all of the people who diss the Xbox And PS3 are most likely nerds liveing in there moms Basement!

  • einsp

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 7:22 pm GMT

    sdbobplissken is the biggest example of a moronic fanboy,probably has PS3 posters hanging all over his room, they are both great systems, There is no point in picking one or the other because one will always have a game that you wanna play that the other doesn't, THERE IS NO GETTING AROUND THIS,Play the games and be happy we have all these great games to play, ON BOTH SYSTEMS!!!!

  • einsp

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 7:11 pm GMT

    Fanboys are so funny, Come on here and really argue about whos got the best games, 360 and PS3 both have great games and good exclusives, And yet lil school boys come on here and argue back and fourth talking about my system is better, No mine is better, No it aint dude mine is really better, shut the hell up and just play the games and stop whining like lil school girls about what is what, Unless ur making the games shut ur mouths and just play them.

  • BigBacon87

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 12:48 pm GMT

    Oh and by the way Ansem_Rev your a poser end of story, you ain't no gamer chump. Circus for the Atari 2600 FTW!

  • KaizerJinn

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 11:27 am GMT

    @undefined420
    interesting point of view... but it seems kind of obscured because your not taking into consideration of the difference install based, AND the fact that PS3 and 360 usually have close to the same amount of sales for a multi release on same date, which to me says something when PS3 clearly has the disadvantage and 360 has the upper hand. besides tht sales are picking and is continue to raise for PS3, whereas it's the other way around for both Wii and 360.... but like Vin Deisel said in Fast&Furious... doesnt matter if he win by a mile or an inch, it does change the fact that you lost and i won. LoL.(i know it was not worded exactly, but that's the general message) LoL

  • Ladiesman17

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 10:34 am GMT

    They get a record, because the Xbox 360 was short-lived, because the RROD or the motherboard that burned, after you buy, and damaged, you'll buy it again, and burned again, and buy it again, btw,,, a good sales strategy. hahaha

  • einsp

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 8:25 am GMT

    Alphacommando, Theres no other better games out right then MW2

  • einsp

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 7:06 am GMT

    SemiMaster-Where have you been? Its always been about console wars, Why do you think Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft are in the biz? They want to have the best console on the market, So when a particular console makes a big splash in the month then yes it news.

  • BigBacon87

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 11:13 pm GMT

    So there I am cutting through a dark alley last weekend hoping to shave some time off of the walk home in the cold. My first mistake.. from directly behind me I hear that raspy desperate voice 'GIVE IT TO ME'. Assuming I meant my wallet I reached for my pocket.. 'NOT THAT'. I sence salavation and slowly turn with my arms open to show I was not packing heat. The man standing in front of me is foaming at the mouth and screams his final demand, 'THE CHEESEBURGER NOW!'. It was Aaron Greenburg. I was just joshin with him so naturally he never got the cheeseburger I just thought it was funny he tried so hard.

  • thanksbrain

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 9:13 pm GMT

    not saying that there is a better system, they both do what they were built for. entertainment.

  • thanksbrain

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 8:33 pm GMT

    the numbers can be attributed, to a large extent, to the fact that there are more 360 owners out there. this is due to the ps3 being the more expensive console for the past few years, something that will begin to change as the price drops. overall console sales are down but the record was due to a game.

  • Ansem_Rev posted Dec 16, 2009 4:51 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Ansem_Rev

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 4:51 pm GMT (hide)

    HAHAHHAHHAHA XBOX 360 OWNS YOU

  • Ansem_Rev posted Dec 16, 2009 4:51 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Ansem_Rev

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 4:51 pm GMT (hide)

    Sony fans are like the special olympics ... They think they are winning but really they are just dying slowly from the inside and everyone else doesn't have the heart to tell them!

  • undefined420

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 12:40 pm GMT

    killafolston

    HAHAAHa you're listing on month of how many years?? It's nothing to be proud of bud

  • undefined420

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 12:37 pm GMT

    Asm92784

    I can speak from expereince cause I do own ps3 and 360. psn is good cause it's free but also clearly justifies the saying, "you get what you pay for" PSN is horrid in comparison to xbox live. It's not a rumour its' not a bias opinion, ITS FACT. Hands down and again I'l say I own both. PS3 is a great blu ray player and the odd game is good.. Uncharted was amazing, lvoed every second of it. Killzone was way over hyped and was a huge dissapointment. Other than that, ps3 offers nothing else of MY TASTE.

  • undefined420

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 12:34 pm GMT

    360 is the best console out there. No dobut about it. Sales figures shows for both consoles and any game that comes out on both systems. If both games come out, rest assured the better version, best selling version, best online version belongs to 360.. long live 360

  • halo4xbox720

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 12:13 pm GMT

    @ bizuit

    3 words - one year start, now MS franchises are a sequel ahead of sony's for the most part. That's what I believe it boils down to 360 is on it's second forza and PS3 hasn't gotten GT5 yet, PS3 and 360 seem to be in a race of who can reveal Resistence 3 or Gears 3 1st. Next year I see lots of shifting between MS and Sony because of sony's biggest franchises finally showing up GOW3 FF13 in japan are gonna contest against Halo and Mario a lot better than uncharted in terms of sales IMO.

  • halo4xbox720

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 11:46 am GMT

    With Nintendo taking the NO.1 spot from MS this gen I wonder if their hand would be forced making them look to the future sooner.

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 11:33 am GMT

    Wow, since when did this whole site become System Wars?

  • HavocV3

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 10:27 am GMT

    killafolston

    ____

    Yup, it's hilarious how people always disregard the PS2's DRE.

    Suddenly it's ok for one company to have hardware failure, but it's not ok for the other...lmao.

  • HavocV3

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 10:24 am GMT

    Asm92784

    _____

    PSN premium?

    We'll see how mindless that side gets in Q1 2010.

  • Asm92784 posted Dec 16, 2009 4:25 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Asm92784

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 4:25 am GMT (hide)

    I am curious how many of you people talking about how much better Xbox live is compared to the Playstation Network have actually even used the PSN and how many of you are just assuming that XBL must be better since you pay for it.

  • Sweendrix

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 11:53 pm GMT

    Bottom Line:

    Xbox 360 has already delivered and continues to do so.

    PS3 is a system with a lot of potential that is finally beginning to come around.

  • Sweendrix

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 11:51 pm GMT

    I own a PS3 and like it. I only have problems with two things. First Playstation Network is still inferior to Xbox Live. It doesn't even matter to me that it's free...it's still amateur hour. Two...I really hate how Sony is telling everyone...LOOK HOW GOOD UNCHARTED 2 LOOKS!!!! While I do think that Uncharted 2 was a pretty good game, I also have to say right now that it is probably pretty easy to make the graphics look good when the action is limited. Has anyone even noticed that the game looks much better when there isn't any fighting going on? Just my two cents. Killzone 2 looked great. It's a fun game with a disappointing ending. Both Gears of War one, and two were more fun than Killzone 2. MGS 4 was also a very good game, but I have to question the load time between chapters (which was upwards of 7-8 minutes on my system). Honestly, all things considered, I think the very best games on the PS3 are from the God of War Collection. Both God of War games were much more fun for me to play (for the first time) than it was to play Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, or MGS 4. The graphics were good, but definitely not next gen...and still...the God of War games are the best games on the system. If God of War 3 delivers on the same level as these two games did for the PS2, then the PS3 will finally be a system worth owning. Kudos to Sony on the PS3 slim...my first PS3 sucked ass and I returned it.

  • Acuatico

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 11:38 pm GMT

    @ansem_Rev
    That was absolutely..... glorious.

  • Mikethechimp

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 10:39 pm GMT

    Yo Microsoft. Im really happy for you and Imma let you finish, but Sony had one of the best November sales of all time!

  • Ansem_Rev

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 8:23 pm GMT

    You know whats funny ... How Sony fans come here... It makes me laugh everytime. Yes it is a multiplatform game. and Guess what when 360 SALES ARE HIGH in the SAME month ITS SIMPLE TO SEE that the SAME GAME is BETTER FOR THE XBOX SO Wake up and smell the sweet smell that is Xbox 360 OWNING YOUR FACE SONY FANS!

  • killafolston

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 5:48 pm GMT

    There's a lot of people on here that keep asking how many 360 owners bought a new one cause their old systems died.The bottom line is,all you people can say the same about the ps2.It had a tremendous failure rate but consumers bought them anyway because it had good games and in the end,that's all that matters. I don't see how anyone could bash the 360 or ps3. GAME ON!

  • bizuit

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 1:37 pm GMT

    I find it interesting that there was more people playing it on live on the first day than copies sold on the PS3.

  • Kenrocc

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 12:54 am GMT

    @monson21502 you are right third party games do matter but does that mean you turn your back on first party development good example while they were touting mw2 around like it was an exclusive desperate for sales here is forza motorsport 3 a great game xbox exclusive not getting the same recognition this is why bungie is leaving Microsoft all they want out of bungie is more halo games because thats why they can get sales out of . all they are doing is slipping money to these independent developers for all these timed exclusives freaking bull.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 10:03 pm GMT

    Why all the hate? If you dont like the 360, simple! dont buy one! i really dont see the point in coming into a forum of this type simply to have a pop, bearing in mind that if you already own a 'superior system' then i would have thought you'd be very happy and have no reason whatsoever to flame an 'inferior system'. maybe this is born out of some kind of either jealousy or just sheer ignorance.

  • tidusjeff posted Dec 14, 2009 6:16 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    tidusjeff

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 6:16 pm GMT (hide)

    Microsoft could of done better in sales. For the reputation that the 360 has with the casual crowd, you'd expect they would sell 400k more.

  • Flint247

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 4:34 pm GMT

    $50 a YEAR isn't bad in my opinion. That's no different than buying a game each year. I hardly buy a lot of games a year (like I don't usually get no more than 5-10 games a year), so it wouldn't bother me.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 3:54 pm GMT

    all that X360 bashing about how PSN is free and XBL is $50/year hasn't stopped over two-thirds of the Modern Warfare 2 buyers from getting it on the X360... or maybe they'll go beat that dead horse about how all X360 players only like shooters

    anyhow, I think XBL has the best online interface, it's much much easier to keep in contact with friends, join party chats, invite friends to games or join friend games in progress, so sure you pay for it but it but it's worth it in many peoples' opinons, and there's an obvious reason PSN is free, 'cause in the end you get what you pay for

  • fps_d0minat0r posted Dec 14, 2009 3:54 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    fps_d0minat0r

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 3:54 pm GMT (hide)

    @ hajjjustin

    1m consoles were banned.
    did you consider re-purchases?
    and did you consider the price difference?
    no?

    well let me tell you, 100,000 extra sales isnt much to be proud of considering all of that.

    plus non-elite systems are selling for peanuts and come with like 4 games, in the UK anyway.

  • PixelAddict

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 1:59 pm GMT

    Looking forward to Christmas and weekend after... I imagine the concurrent record will be broken again. A very fraggy Christmas.

  • hajjjustin

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 1:56 pm GMT

    this is so funny just the other day all the PS3 fan boys were making fun of the 360 fan boys about the numbers that PS3 came out with and now the tables have turned. this has been quite interesting and funny to watch.

  • Flint247

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 1:54 pm GMT

    Hmm, the MW2 Limited Edition 360s are still out there, I wonder if I should go for that or a regular 360 Elite...

  • devildothack

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 12:13 pm GMT

    damn, thats great savings..awesome for us like 1st time buyers in an xbox 360 console..you get everything you need for great start off, thanks for the info

  • h4xx0rz

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 11:22 am GMT

    @devildothack

    It was mostly a store thing, and it was much cheaper to get the bundle. It came with the game, a 360 console, a 250GB hard drive, and two controllers. The extra 130GB is about $150 retail, the game is $60, and the controller is $50, essentially saving $160.

  • devildothack

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 8:53 am GMT

    i do like the part for the $400 xbox 360 bundle that has the game included. i did some search online, i couldn't find this bundle specifically in an online store. is it a onetime only thing, is it cheaper buy the bundle than separate?

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 6:05 am GMT

    Well deserved success for the X360

  • wh1te_m4trix

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 2:52 am GMT

    My god, I couldn't help it but picture sdbobplissken as a college frat boy. Trey for life, hahaha.

    Anyways, both consoles are great. The PS3 has the single player advantage, while the 360 has the multiplayer advantage. I only have an Xbox 360 and I wish I had a PS3 so I could play MGS4 and UC2. So people, please stop whining, get a life, and play the games to enjoy them, not to bash the next guy.

  • MacenKrace posted Dec 14, 2009 2:47 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    MacenKrace

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 2:47 am GMT (hide)

    A typical game for typical americans. I don't know what they see in shooting ppl out in a game but apparently this world is happy with it. If the game were better encoded for the PS3 then the sales would have been higher for the PS3. Activision's lose is basically their mistake and consequently Microsoft's gain.

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