Xbox Series X/S are Microsoft’s ‘fastest selling consoles ever’

Microsoft has said that Xbox Series X/S are the company’s fastest selling consoles ever.

Company CEO Satya Nadella made the claim during the company’s fourth quarter earnings call on Tuesday.

“The Xbox Series S and X are our fastest selling consoles ever with more consoles sold life to date than any previous generation [during the same timeframe],” he said.

“We are all in on games,” Nadella said on Tuesday. “At E3 last month, we unveiled out biggest games line-up ever, announcing 27 new titles which will all be available to Game Pass subscribers.

“Game Pass is growing rapidly and it’s transforming how people discover, connect and play games,” he continued. “Subscribers play approximately 40 percent more games and spend 50 percent more than non-members.”

Research firm Niko Partners estimates that total Xbox Series X/S shipments reached 6.5 million as of June 30, 2021.

That compares to its estimate of 5.7 million for Xbox One and 5 million for Xbox 360 in the same timeframe.

Earlier this year, rival console firm PlayStation reported that 7.8m PS5s had shipped as of March 31, 2021.

The consoles’ sales success comes despite ongoing shortages in the market, with many consumers still unable to secure hardware. Microsoft previously said it expected Xbox Series X/S supply issues to continue into the summer.

Microsoft reported on Tuesday that its gaming business saw a higher than expected increase in quarterly revenue following strong demand for Xbox Series X/S consoles.

During Microsoft’s earnings call, CFO Amy Hood said the company expects “console growth will again be constrained by supply” during the current quarter ending on September 30.

Further reading

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Former PlayStation exec questions the Xbox Game Pass model

Shawn Layden is sceptical of its sustainability and its potential to expand the console market

In March, Xbox corporate vice president Sarah Bond said Game Pass subscribers spent 20 percent more than non-subscribers, and on average played 30% more games.

Xbox Game Pass launched in June 2017 and has become central to Microsoft’s gaming business. It offers members access to over 100 titles, including all first-party games at launch.

Game Pass had 18 million subscribers as of January 2021, up from 15 million in September 2020, according to Microsoft.