Xbox One reveal event breaks viewership records

Over 8.45 million people watched the Xbox One reveal online during the first 24 hours, breaking viewership records, Microsoft announced today. The company says viewership at this level makes the Xbox One reveal event "one of the top-most concurrent streamed events of all time."

Through Xbox.com, Microsoft saw almost three times as many people watching the livestream concurrently than other other major event in the website's history. The event was streamed by Akamai, which reports the Xbox One presentation was among the most watched live broadcasts from the company in its history.

The event nearly doubled peak traffic records for Akamai, Microsoft said, and passed the viewership records set by events like the 2010 World Cup, the Royal Wedding in 2011, and 2012 election night.

Not only was the Xbox One event a hit online, but viewers tuned in through traditional televsion at a record clip. Citing Nielsen data, Microsoft said 1.73 million people watched the briefing on Spike TV and the event was the number one TV show for men 18-34 at 10 a.m. on May 21.

The Xbox One is due out this holiday season. Microsoft will share more details about the platform next month during the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

The company's presence at the trade show will be focused on games. Microsoft will release 15 Xbox One-exclusive titles in the system's first year, eight of which are all-new franchises.