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Major Nelson: Xbox One and 360 Were The Top Selling Consoles In December...in USA

Pop quiz:
Which next gen home console sold less in December than the previous month at 908k sold, all while having plentiful stock in stores?

Bonus question:
Does anyone think this is a good sign? If so why?

So, solid demand + solid supply: I don't know, but I'm kinda leaning towards that being a good sign? Am I allowed to phone a friend?

Bonus thought:
Not too shabby for a $500 console.
 
congrats to MS, nice work. they sold many more units than most people predicted/expected. yield issues? yeah right.. I still can't believe how many XB1 they managed to sell at that 499$ msrp


It might help if you go look at the NPD predictions thread. Lots of people, if not the majority, predicted an MS win and sales well over the actual figures, but hey that doesn't fit your narrative.
 

Fezan

Member
So Xbox one and PS 4 are nearly neck to neck. Really shocked to see this. Would have thought people would choose cheaper console. The tips will turn to Ms favor when titanfall will launch. And then with Halo. Looks like Ms will be again main console of USA
 

Alx

Member
In the end it's probably been a smart move to delay the release in several countries, so they can at least claim they're ahead on their main market. It's all a matter of politics, but it certainly helps their image, rather than being second everywhere.
All new consoles are selling well, so everybody's happy. The generation is off for a good start. (well, Nintendo still needs to do something about the WiiU, of course)
 
So, solid demand + solid supply: I don't know, but I'm kinda leaning towards that being a good sign? Am I allowed to phone a friend?

Bonus thought:
Not too shabby for a $500 console.

So if I understand correct, you are saying a new console with solid supply selling less than the previous month, during Christmas holiday is a good sign? Sure, you can call the Major, if this isn't your final answer.
 
As far as im concerned the software attach rates are the far bigger story going forward.

It shows that even if the xbox one trails the in amount of consoles sold, the people would do buy the console buy far more games.

That coupled with live fees, help microsofts bottom line much more. They make very little off hardware in comparison.

The attach rate for ghosts and BF4 in particular are very promising for Titanfall.
 
That's great number, a million would look even better but is still very impressive. I'm happy they managed to turn that ship around and start this generation right.

Also Goddamn at the Xbox 360, that has the be the most stable console ever. Selling great through the entire generation.
 

goonergaz

Member
So Xbox one and PS 4 are nearly neck to neck. Really shocked to see this. Would have thought people would choose cheaper console. The tips will turn to Ms favor when titanfall will launch. And then with Halo. Looks like Ms will be again main console of USA

PS4 was largely more supply constrained = it would have sold more if the stock was there
 

SpecDotSign

Unconfirmed Member
Pretty simple explanation.
Christmas time, two new consoles are out, no PS4s to be found.
Parents will buy whatever's available to satisfy little Timmy; they bought XboxOnes by default.
Surely they would have gone with the $100 cheaper console with the PlayStation name brand that also offered a kid's game (Knack) to go with it.
By that logic little Timmy would have gotten a Wii U. It's still relatively "new".
 
I can't disagree. Now that the launch dust is starting to settle, the Xbox One comes across to me as the more next-gen system. Not in terms of pure power like the PS4, but just in general. As Microsoft took more risks with features and balanced it all out with enough power to clearly still be next-gen for gaming. It is just more ambitious on the whole.

Very much so, I just hope they'll have enough initial support on consumers' side, and enough common sense and internal support on their own to realize all that potential over the coming years.
 

SaucyJack

Member
So Xbox one and PS 4 are nearly neck to neck. Really shocked to see this. Would have thought people would choose cheaper console. The tips will turn to Ms favor when titanfall will launch. And then with Halo. Looks like Ms will be again main console of USA

Not sure I follow your logic. Sure December was neck and neck but aren't the LTD numbers something like 2.1m v 1.8 with one console in ready supply and not sold out and the other one struggling to meet demand?
 
January and February will be the real test to see if demand for the Xbox one deteriorates any more than it has already.

So far there's no sign of deterioration, and the early numbers prove that. They seem to just be doing a pretty good job of keeping the system in supply. It's way too early to determine if there's any kind of deterioration in demand with these types of numbers. And, just to add to that point, I want an Xbox One badly, but I simply can't afford one at the moment, so there are legitimate examples of people that really want an Xbox One, but the pricetag puts it a bit out of reach at the moment. That's the impressive part about the way the Xbox One is selling. It really is out of many people's price range right now, so I wouldn't be too quick to assume that every single box not being sold is automatically because people don't want one. That couldn't be any further from the truth. The price of the system has most definitely been affecting sales, just not nearly as much as many expected. The real question is how long can it continue selling as impressively as it has been at the current price?

So if I understand correct, you are saying a new console with solid supply selling less than the previous month, during Christmas holiday is a good sign? Sure, you can call the Major, if this isn't your final answer.

With these numbers, and for a $500 + tax machine, it's hardly as significant as you think. Numbers will go up and down for various reasons, even with good supply, and this can't honestly be the first time you've ever seen such a thing occur. And let's look at this drop off that has you guys flipping out.

Xbox One in November sold 909,132
Xbox One in December sold 908,000

That's the sales drop off you guys are pulling the fire alarm over? Come on... get serious.
 
Pretty simple explanation.
Christmas time, two new consoles are out, no PS4s to be found.
Parents will buy whatever's available to satisfy little Timmy; they bought XboxOnes by default.
Surely they would have gone with the $100 cheaper console with the PlayStation name brand that also offered a kid's game (Knack) to go with it.


The fans bought an Xbox1, that's why the attach rate is higher (than PS4) even though the console price is higher.
 

Evo_Nine

Banned
The power of competition is at work here.

MS did a good job reversing all those horrible features and provided free games with their consoles and now they are enjoying the rewards.

Wouldn't of happened without a competitor such as Sony.

So I guess its good for everyone!
 
So far there's no sign of deterioration, and the early numbers prove that. They seem to just be doing a pretty good job of keeping the system in supply. It's way too early to determine if there's any kind of deterioration in demand with these types of numbers. And, just to add to that point, I want an Xbox One badly, but I simply can't afford one at the moment, so there are legitimate examples of people that really want an Xbox One, but the pricetag puts it a bit out of reach at the moment. That's the impressive part about the way the Xbox One is selling. It really is out of many people's price range right now, so I wouldn't be too quick to assume that every single box not being sold is automatically because people don't want one. That couldn't be any further from the truth. The price of the system has most definitely been affecting sales, just not nearly as much as many expected. The real question is how long can it continue selling as impressively as it has been at the current price?

Dec sales < Nov sales

XB1 is is not out of stock as well. Thats a slight deterioration.
 

HORRORSHØW

Member
Fantastic news for Microsoft, especially in light of all the doom and gloom naysayers. This generation is off to a strong start for both companies, and gamers are going to reap the rewards.
 
I do not want to be argumentative, but if I think back to all that the MS has tried to do to us gamers ...
Ok, I get out of here because I do not like controversy and prefer to speak enthusiastically only about videogames.

They stopped before the console was even out, in the end no one that bought an Xbox 360 had to deal with what Microsoft wanted to do in the first place.
 
After these results I am even more sure that the PS4 will take the US. Microsoft put on a great defensive manuvor by flooding the market it had the best chance to dominate. I doubt they are happy with the results.
 

Prine

Banned
PS4 was largely more supply constrained = it would have sold more if the stock was there

And they'll continue to be with Japan launch. I fully expect MS to take advantage of this to coerce frustrated customers, especially in March, TitanFall is going to shift those bones.

After these results I am even more sure that the PS4 will take the US. Microsoft put on a great defensive manuvor by flooding the market it had the best chance to dominate. I doubt they are happy with the results.

Xbox one has obliterated 360, the attach rate is high, first party sales are good, all this @ $500. Im sure they're more than happy.
 
After these results I am even more sure that the PS4 will take the US. Microsoft put on a great defensive manuvor by flooding the market it had the best chance to dominate. I doubt they are happy with the results.

Okay, I've read enough. LOL

Your right. Its meaningless. Thats why Jan would be the real test.

Personally, I'm paying more attention to February and beyond. That should tell us a lot more, because January can sometimes (but not always) display a bit of a strong carryover effect from the usually big December. February and on will tell us a lot more.
 
And they'll continue to be with Japan launch. I fully expect MS to take advantage of this to coerce frustrated customers, especially in March, TitanFall is going to shift those bones.



Xbox one has obliterated 360, the attach rate is high, first party sales are good, all this @ $500. Im sure they're more than happy.

If you expected to sell out and win the US by a big margin... Would you be happy it didn't happen? Content...sounds more likely.

Okay, I've read enough. LOL



Personally, I'm paying more attention to February and beyond. That should tell us a lot more, because January can sometimes (but not always) display a bit of a strong carryover effect from the usually big December. February and on will tell us a lot more.

So Xbox One is expected to carry over that huge momentum? I mean with the carryover effect and all?
 
Wow. USA still MS land confirmed.

I still hold firm that demand will only go to favor Microsoft in the long run, regardless of how Sony satisfies US supply chains.

US gamers want the Xbox One and its games more than they do the PS4, even at $100 more.

Guess we'll sew how right or wrong I am once the drought months come in and Sony gets consoles on shelves.

sony dun goofed

I'm really not kidding when I say I have no idea if this is all sarcasm or not. Do some posters not know that each console launched in November and PS4 is leading overall in the US in ltd?

US still MS land and US gamers want the Xbox One more by purchasing more ps4's than xbox one's in 2013? 'Sony dun goofed' by reclaiming the the number one territory that they lost substantially last gen and selling every PS4 they made?

If this is all sarcasm than I fell stupid. Carry on.
 

IcyEyes

Member
They stopped before the console was even out, in the end no one that bought an Xbox 360 had to deal with what Microsoft wanted to do in the first place.

I know ... and I agree with you, but maybe it's me ... I'm not a person who forget so easily and, well, we are talking about MS, a company well know for some "bad" moves against other companies and consumers.

For example, you can't believe how much bad and unhealthy is money hat for exclusive games instead invest in new IP. I know this because there are some devs out there that can create awesome games with 1/10 of that money ... Really, this attitude is pretty ... awful.

Now, I really leave from this thread, so I'm very sorry if I will not reply further. :)
 

Prine

Banned
If you expected to sell out and win the US by a big margin... Would you be happy it didn't happen? Content...sounds more likely.

The winning comes later, they just launched and are off to a great start, great lineup/media content for 2014 and price to play with. I have no doubt Xbox One at $400-$450 would have destroyed everything, the brand is just that strong in US, but they have the move open later down the line.
 

BajiRav

Member
Major Nelson, I think you are great but come on, this has to stop now.



Ice cold.

Only in the real world, not in the microsof-counting-and-interpreting world.

Wow...you guys sound bitter.
Are you saying XB1 outselling PS4 in December is somehow MS PR spin?

It doesn't matter if PS4 was supply constrained, that is a problem Sony needs to address similar to how $500 is a problem MS needs to address.
 
Good for them congratulations..They sold more consoles here in the U.S due to supply issues on Sonys part and i can speak for myself that i barely seen PS4's available in store but i did see Xbox Ones just sitting there waiting to be purchased.
 
So 1.8 million per npd. That's interesting.

If I remember right, MS said they sold 3M Xbox Ones to consumers in 2013, right? That means they sold 1.2M outside of US.

Do we have the "split" of Xbox 360, US/World? Because at first blush, given how US centric the Xbox brand is, having a 5/4 ratio sounds pretty good.

Anyway, I'm glad that Xbox is doing well in the US. Hopefully the demand continues into 2014 and they continue to keep their supply lines replenished. Avatar confusion aside, I'm definitely an Xbox centric gamer, so I want to see them continue to do well and push the XBO to be even better.

I definitely look forward to when Sony can get PS4 supply worldwide fully stocked. The most they can push Microsoft, the better things will be for me!
 
The winning comes later, they just launched and are off to a great start, great lineup/media content for 2014 and price to play with. I have no doubt Xbox One at $400-$450 would have destroyed everything, the brand is just that strong in US, but they have the move open later down the line.

MS will take US in the long run thanks to the brand being popular and movement on price, I remember as soon as 360 price was slashed to a friendlier price it was consistently outpacing all consoles. Still amazed how well it's done at $500

So for $50-100 less it would have destroyed everything, but at $500 you're amazed how well it's done even though it hasn't sold more in total than the PS4? or even sold out its own stock?

Brand is so strong?!
 
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