Data from the past 11 months highlights the fact that in less than a year, Xbox has earned a solid position in the video games industry
Xbox has sold more software and has a higher attach rate than any other console system on record. We have sold more than 13 million software units, representing an attach rate of 4.6 games for each console sold in North America (based on NPD data). Since we launched last November, Xbox has sold 23 percent more consoles and 38 percent more software than GameCube. This gap continues to widen each month. Despite the fact that Xbox did not release any of its major titles in September, we continued to sell more consoles and software in September than GameCube. This has remained true despite the launch of Super Mario Sunshine in August. In July, GameCube's share was 18 percent and rose by only two percentage points in September, following the launch of Mario.
Additional September metrics include:
"Dead to Rights," an exclusive Xbox title from Namco was the #1 Xbox title in September and has already sold more than 190,000 units in just under two months in the market.
Xbox next-gen console share increased two points from 19 percent in August to 21 percent in September, showing strong momentum heading into the busy holiday season.
At the same time, PS2 console sales are slowing, as its next-gen console share dropped from 63 percent in August to 60 percent in September. Also, if you look at the weekly runrate for both months (September was a five week month), this represents a 12 percent decline in unit sales weekly runrate from August to September.
At the end of September, 125 titles were available on the Xbox platform, with more than 75 new titles expected by the end of the year. That means gamers will have a total of 200 different games to choose from this holiday on Xbox. To compare, less than 100 titles are currently available for GameCube.
In Europe, we've seen strong progress since the price decline on August 28th, including:
Xbox outsold GameCube on average by 7% across UK, France, and Germany for the month September and we are establishing ourselves as the #2 player in Europe.
In the UK specifically, which is the largest console market in Europe, we continue to gain share and have already outsold GameCube in life to date SW sales.
In addition to this, we have surpassed GameCube in total console sales to date, according to Chart Track.
Based on the latest channel feedback in Europe, pre-orders for Splinter Cell are already higher than what Metal Gear Solid 2 had at this time last year.
Remember that this is our first Christmas in Europe and we have high expectations for the recently announced Sega Bundle.
Holiday Promotion
On October 14, we announced a holiday offer (while supplies last) that includes an Xbox console, Controller-S and two of the best Xbox exclusive games (Sega GT 2002 and Jet Set Radio Future) available - all for only $199.99. Sales of this holiday offer have so far exceeded both our expectations and retailers' expectations.
Other Xbox News:
As we head into the holiday season, several Xbox events and announcements are notable:
Xbox Live launches in North America on November 15. All Xbox Live games allow people to find their friends easily, find a great match, and communicate with others using the Xbox Live Communicator headset. The following Live-enabled games are playable online this holiday season:
MechAssault
Unreal Championship
Sega's NFL, NBA, and NHL 2K3
NFL Fever 2003
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
Whacked!
MotoGP
Capcom vs SNK 2 EO
The following titles will also have downloadable content via Xbox Live:
ToeJam and Earl 3: Mission to Earth (download content will include new characters and missions)
MX Superfly (downloadable content will include new riders, bikes, and unlockable levels)
Tom Clancy's Spinter Cell (Xbox Live users will be able to download a new mission)
Playable trial versions of THQ's "MotoGP" and "Whacked!" from Microsoft Game Studios will ship with the Xbox Live Starter Kit. The starter kit will contain the Xbox Communicator, setup disc, a 12-month subscription to Xbox Live, along with the "MotoGP: Online Demo" jam-packed with motorcycle racing goodness and a starter version of "Whacked!" featuring hours of zany combat with crazy characters.
- Xbox Live will launch at retail in eight European countries on March 14, 2003: U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden. The Xbox Live consumer test drive will launch online on November 30 in the UK, France and Germany.
- In Japan, Xbox Live beta testing will begin in mid-November and launch at retail on January 16, 2003.
- Releases of several Xbox holiday titles, including (please note this is not a complete list):
- Blinx: The Time Sweeper (Microsoft Game Studios), Available Now
- NFL Fever 2003 (Microsoft Game Studios), Available Now
- The House of the Dead III (Sega), Available Now
- Dead to Rights (Namco), Available Now
- Quantum Redshift (Microsoft Game Studios), Available Now
- NBA Inside Drive 2003 (Microsoft Game Studios), Available Now
- Madden NFL 2003 (Electronic Arts), Available Now
- Sega GT 2002 (Sega), Available Now
- TransWorld Snowboarding (Infogrames), Available Now
- TimeSplitters 2 (Eidos), Available Now
- Whacked! (Microsoft Game Studios), Available Now
- Sneakers (Microsoft Game Studios), Available Now
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (Activision), Available Now
- Crimson Sea (Koei), November
- Tekki/Steel Battalions (Capcom), November
- Shenmue 2 (Microsoft Game Studios), November 5
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (Ubisoft) - November 12
- Metal Gear Solid 2 Substance (Konami) - November 12
- MechAssault (Microsoft Game Studios), November 15
- Unreal Championship (Infogrames) - November 15
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Electronic Arts) - November 15
- 007: NightFire (Electronic Arts) - November 18
- Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance (Midway) - November 18
- Kakuto Chojin (Microsoft Game Studios), November 19
Halo was a hit at the annual Bafta Interactive Entertainment Awards earlier this month in London. The awards are the most high-profile awards in the UK for the multi-media industry and celebrate the UK's best websites, interactive TV and computer games. Halo was nominated in three categories and collected awards for both Games Multiplayer and Games Console, beating off competition from Grand Theft Auto 3.
Xbox launched in New Zealand on October 3, 2002 and in Mexico on October 16, 2002. Xbox will launch in Hong Kong and Singapore on November 22 and in Taiwan on November 29, 2002. Korea will be announced soon.
European X02, September 24-26 in Seville, Spain. We announced the acquisition of U.K-based Rare Ltd. for $375 million. We also introduced new titles on Xbox, and discussed details of the Xbox Live launch in Europe.