Microsoft Corp has sold more than 2 million Xbox One video game consoles since its November 22 launch, catching up with rival Sony Corp’s PlayStation 4 released a week earlier.<\/p>\n
The U.S. software giant on Wednesday said it took 18 days for Xbox One’s global sales to surpass 2 million – a new company record. Japan’s Sony last week said it took 15 days for PS4 sales to cross 2.1 million.<\/p>\n
The Xbox One, on sale in 13 countries, is selling quicker than its predecessor, the Xbox 360, and is sold out at most retailers, said Microsoft Xbox spokesman David Dennis.<\/p>\n
“We’re manufacturing as fast as we can” to replenish supplies at stores during the holiday season, Dennis said.<\/p>\n
The Xbox One, priced $499 in the United States, and PS4, priced $399, offer improved graphics for increased realism and faster processors permitting smoother play, as well as numerous exclusive games.<\/p>\n
“Being even is a win for Sony,” Benchmark Co analyst Mike Hickey said.<\/p>\n
Sony’s pitch that its PS4 is a gamer-centric device has successfully attracted game enthusiasts and “that will show in market share moving forward,” Hickey said.<\/p>\n
Microsoft hopes the new Xbox will become the entertainment hub in living rooms, not only enticing gamers but appealing to a broader consumer base of TV fans and music lovers with its interactive entertainment features and media applications. It has been pitching its Kinect motion sensor camera, Xbox-only titles like “Ryse: Son of Rome” and features that allow hands-free control of television sets to differentiate its device.<\/p>\n
Robert W. Baird & Co analyst Colin Sebastian in October said he expected global shipments of 2.5 million to 3 million consoles for both the Xbox One and PS4 in October-December. Both consoles sold over 1 million units in their first 24 hours after going on sale.<\/p>\n
Investors are keeping a close eye on sales of the two next-generation consoles, which arrived after a gap of eight years. Analysts say they could reignite the video game market, which struggled with flagging sales for over a year until this fall when it began seeing a gradual uptick in revenue.<\/p>\n
Strong launches of both consoles were a good sign for the industry but it was too soon to forecast where the market was going to shift, said Benchmark’s Hickey.<\/p>\n
Despite robust initial demand, “it remains to be seen how much mainstream consumer demand will unfold,” Baird & Co’s Sebastian said in a recent research note.<\/p>\n
Microsoft shares were down 1.3 percent at $37.60 in afternoon trading on Nasdaq.<\/p>\n
Microsoft lines up more TV projects for Xbox One<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Microsoft announces Xbox One price, launch date<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n