The NPD numbers for gaming console sales in February have been released and show that the Microsoft Xbox 360 console now owns 42% of console sales and holds the number one spot for its 14th month in a row.
This is the Xbox 360’s seventh year on the market and a big factor in its recent surge is the release of the Kinect for Xbox 360 hands free controller device in November 2010 and the massive entertainment related update to the console in December 2011.
According to the report:
Holding 42 percent share of current-generation console sales, Xbox 360 sold 426,000 units in February, maintaining the number-one console spot in the U.S. This marks the twelfth consecutive month Xbox 360 has held more than 40 percent of the current-generation console market share. (Source: NPD Group, February 2012)
Total retail spend on the Xbox 360 platform in February (hardware, software and accessories) reached US$383 million, the most for any console in the U.S. (Source: NPD Group, February 2012)
During the month of February, Xbox 360 held five of the top 10 U.S. console game titles including: “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning,” “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” “UFC Undisputed,” “NBA 2K12,” and “Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.” (Source: NPD Group, February 2012)
It would seem the trend will continue with a breadth of releases this year that will continue to take advantage of the Kinect for Xbox 360 device, more entertainment related partners going public with their Xbox 360 Apps and of course familiar franchises like Halo and Fable scheduled for updated versions.
(Via The Official Microsoft Blog – News and Perspectives from Microsoft)
