Microsoft’s Liz Hamren, CVP of Gaming Experience and Platform, has written today to confirm that the launch of the Xbox Series X|S is the biggest console launch in Xbox history. This means it has beat the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One when it comes to launch numbers. The Xbox Series S brought in the highest number of new players percentage wise compared to other Xbox consoles. 3,594 different games were played collectively by users in the first 24 hours of the Xbox Series X|S launch, with Game Pass now doubt having an impact there. In fact, 70% of Xbox Series X|S users are subscribed to Xbox Game Pass. Here is what Liz Hamren had to say:
Thanks to you, the launch of Xbox Series X|S is now the most successful debut in our history. While we missed the emotional spark of being together with you in person, it was incredible to celebrate a new generation of gaming with the millions on our celebration livestream and everyone who participated in our global launch across 40 countries.
As none of this would be possible without great games to play, we also want to thank our development partners around the world and congratulate them on their own respective launches this week, including delivering more than 40 new and Optimized games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, Dirt 5, The Falconeer, Tetris Effect: Connected, Watch Dogs: Legion and Yakuza: Like a Dragon to players on day one, 30 of which support Smart Delivery.
We know that not everyone was able to get an Xbox Series X|S immediately and are working tirelessly with our partners around the world to bring as many new consoles to as many of you as possible over time and encourage you to check in with your local retailers directly for more details on availability in your market.
You can read our own review of the Xbox Series X right here.
Source: Microsoft
camdaz
MS may be happy but all the folk that didn’t get theirs won’t be.
They haven’t mentioned the number of consoles sold or the X S ratio.
Starman
Well they’ll be delighted to have got lots of new users buying the series S, though without sales figures this announcement is a bit vague.
TrannosaurusBex
I find announcements like this a wee bit silly. As others have already said; without any mention of actual numbers (in typical MS style. Maybe the figures will surface later, however I won’t hold my breath), it’s all a bit useless. They could have only made 1 extra sale this time around and this statement would be true, but rather unflattering.
Also, considering a rising world population, and the uptake of new users throughout the past generation, you’d generally hope to outdo your own previous performance. As a business, if you didn’t you’d be doing something massively wrong.
But sure, yay for them.
KippDynamite
“3,594 different games were played collectively by users in the first 24 hours of the Xbox Series X|S launch”
This is the kind of stat you mention when you don’t have anything else impressive to say. No doubt they sold a lot of new consoles, but they must know it’s much less than the competition. We don’t even know if those games were played on new consoles or old ones!