X07 Not Happening This Year

For the first time since 2004, there won't be an XO event in Europe this year. Gamespot suggests that Microsoft's annual press event is superfluous this year, as last year it fell directly within the timeframe of the Halo 3 launch. "Speaking on the E3 podcast of Microsoft fan site Squad XP, Xbox Live marketing manager Aaron Greenberg flatly said that 'There's not a real X07 this year.' And while Microsoft's official spokespersons refrained from comment, last night Xbox Live director of programming Larry 'Major Nelson' Hyrb posted a small note (pictured) on his heavily trafficked blog morosely confirming X07's demise."

WTF is XO?

[Anonymous Coward]

It would have been nice to at least give a short description of what XO is. From the blurb, we do understand it has something to do with Xbox, but for those of us who aren't Microsoft zealots, XO means nothing.

Re:Microsoft Easing Out Of Console Hardware?

[AKAImBatman]

The 360 is selling to the EXACT same people who bought the first Xbox.

Now that is provably false. The XBox sold a mere 24 million units in the 4+ years it was on the market. In comparison, the 360 sold about 10 million units in the first year. Unless sales fall off dramatically, Microsoft is still in a better position than they were with the XBox.

In addition, movements like Wii60 [wii60.com] are causing many gamers to see the 360 as a companion to the Wii rather than a competitor. This has driven the consumer thinking of, "I'll use the Wii for 'fun' games, then use the 360 for FPSes, Simulations, and HD Entertainment." I see this thinking on a daily basis, so it would appear to be working.

I'm no fan of Microsoft, but they've done just as much right with the 360 as they have done wrong. I'm actually *happy* that they've screwed up the hardware yields so royally as it's one of the few things keeping them from getting a stronger hold on the market.

Virtually no one in Japan.

This is true. However, Microsoft doesn't actually need Japan to sell well. Japan is the center for quite a bit of gaming, but there's enough game development elsewhere in the world to keep Microsoft's machine running.

A fairly small number of people in Europe, mostly in the UK.

According to VGCharts [vgchartz.com], Microsoft has managed about 3.18 million in non-Japanese international sales compared to their 6.5 million domestic sales. That's hardly "a fairly small number". In fact, it's about 30% of their market.

The truth is that the 360 has expanded Microsoft's hold considerably. It's costing them a very large fortune to hold it, but it would be foolish to let it slip through their grasp now.