June 2007 Monthly NPD Report
Two weeks ago at E3, we showed the world the strength of the Xbox 360 ecosystem and its role in driving the video game industry forward. Xbox customers in the U.S. continued to spend more money on hardware games, accessories and digital entertainment than on any other next-gen console. With our robust online services including Xbox LIVE and Xbox LIVE Marketplace, our exclusive games and partnerships with movie studios and television networks, Xbox 360 is offering a larger variety of premium entertainment and attracting a broader audience than ever before.
This Monday, Games Critics awarded Xbox 360 38 nominations for the 2007 Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 – 17 more than last year – compared to 29 for Playstation 3 and 14 for Wii. This makes Xbox 360 the most nominated platform with 38 nominations overall. Microsoft Game Studios also tallied an impressive number of nominations with eight in total. As we said at E3, this business is all about the games, and this is yet further proof that Xbox 360 has the best lineup, hands down.
Microsoft Game Studios’ nominated games include “Mass Effect” (MGS) for Best in Show, Best Console, and Best RPG title. “Fable 2” (MGS) was also nominated for Best RPG. “Halo 3” (MGS) garnered nods for Best Action game and Best Online Multiplayer, and “Halo Wars” (MGS) snagged a nomination for Best Strategy game. “Project Gotham Racing 4” (MGS) also received a nomination for Best Racing title.
Our lead in worldwide install base continues to grow, with more than 11.6 million Xbox 360 consoles sold across 37 countries, the largest install base of any next-gen console. This June 2007, we sold 197K Xbox 360 consoles – 40,000 units more than we sold last month.
According to NPD, three of the top 10 games in June were Xbox 360 games or exclusives, including “Forza Motorsport 2” (MGS), “Guitar Hero II” (Activision) and “The Darkness” (2K Games). This marks 22 appearances for third-party titles on Xbox 360 to break the monthly top 10 best-selling games list in the past 9 months. Third party games continue to thrive with half of all retail spending taking place on Xbox 360.
Month over month, consumers’ commitment to Xbox 360 continues, with record-breaking attach rates of 6.1 games and 3.2 accessories sold per console. Since launch, we’ve sold 20.1 million games, more than our next-gen competitors combined.
With a proven track record of delivering the experiences most desired by consumers, Xbox 360 continues to drive the industry to new heights – today, this holiday and beyond. Looking to this holiday season, Xbox 360 has the greatest lineup in video game history with games like “Halo 3,” (MGS) “Grand Theft Auto IV,” (Rock Star Games) “Madden NFL 08,” (EA Sports) “Rock Band,” (MTV Games) and “Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action” (MGS) coming to the platform exclusively. “Scene It?” leverages the new, easy-to-use Big Button Controller, which makes it simple for players of all ages to experience the fun of movie trivia as they view TV and movie clips in high-definition.
Speaking of movies, this month we also announced a new partnership with The Walt Disney Studios which brings a growing catalog of new and classic movies including titles from Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures and Miramax Films, on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the leading high-definition-video download service. With an ever-expanding entertainment portfolio of movies, TV shows and film shorts available from the most recognized studios in the world, no other system delivers living room entertainment like Xbox 360.
Last but certainly not least, in anticipation of this year's largest blockbuster game launch, Microsoft will offer the Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition Console in September 2007. The console features an exclusive "Spartan green and gold" finish and comes bundled with a matching Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, 20GB Hard Drive, Headset, Play & Charge Kit, and exclusive Halo 3 Gamer Pics and Theme (available via Xbox LIVE download).
