Microsoft has announced that the launch of its new gaming console has marked the biggest launch in Xbox history. The Xbox One went on sale in multiple worldwide markets at midnight last night with the Redmond based company confirming that more than one million consoles were sold within the first 24-hours of sale.
A total of thirteen individual markets around the world benefitted from the initial launch of Microsoft’s new console. Consumer interest in the hardware has clearly been proved to be at unprecedented levels with first-day sales obliterating those of the Xbox 360, setting a new sales record for Microsoft in the process. The impressive rate at which the Xbox One is flying off the shelves is undoubtedly great news for Microsoft but could prove to be problematic for those who have opted to wait until after the first-day hype to get their hands on the console.
As part of their official Xbox News statement confirming the impressive sales figures, Microsoft has also confirmed that worldwide stock of the Xbox One is all but depleted. In addition to publishing initial sales numbers, the Xbox team has also provided us with some interesting and equally impressive gaming statistics from those who were lucky enough to purchase a console. Gamers have already managed to rid the world of more than 60 million zombies in Dead Rising 3 as well as cover more than 3.6 million miles of tarmac in various vehicles while playing Forza Motorsport 5.
Gamers have also clearly been taking advantage of the new and the more powerful Kinect sensor that ships with the Xbox One. After waiting in midnight queues to be amongst the first to get the console they have still found the energy to accumulate over 43.3 million Fit Points as part of the Xbox Fitness system. Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, Yusuf Mehdi, is waxing lyrical about the sales by saying that his company are "humbled and grateful for the excitement of Xbox fans around the world".
Microsoft has good reason to be pleased with the launch. Sold out in most retailers. New sales records broken. Unprecedented levels of interest in the Xbox hardware. All extremely positive indicators for the Redmond company. However, Sony also announced one million sales of the PlayStation 4 within the first 24-hours with its console only being available in the United States and Canada. It’s shaping up to be an extremely interesting battle as approach the peak of the holiday shopping season.
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