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Kinect sells over 1 million units in 10 days – Is that good or bad?

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Kinect

Microsoft has announced this morning that over 1 million Kinect sensors have been sold to consumers world wide in the first 10 days of sales and that they are on target to break 5 million before the end of the year.

Now a million is a lot but maybe I have just become jaded by the huge figures that titles like Black Ops and Gran Turismo 5 announce as I have to say I am a little surprised that Microsoft have only sold 1 million units.

With the massive marketing campaign and the early rumours of all the shops selling out I expected them to be close to or over 2 million in the first day of sales.

But they do say they are on target for 5 million by the end of the year which is far more than most people expected them to sell so I guess this is good news for Microsoft after all.

Full PR is below

“REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 15, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. today announced it has sold 1 million Kinect for Xbox 360 units worldwide in 10 days and is on pace to hit 5 million by the end of the year. The announcement comes a week before the biggest selling day of the year, Black Friday, and in the wake of increasing momentum for Xbox 360, which led U.S. video game console sales for the past four months.1

“We are appreciative of the response we have seen from consumers that has culminated in sales of more than 1 million units in the first 10 days on the market for Kinect for Xbox 360,” said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “This is a great start to the holiday season, and we will continue to work with our retailer partners to keep pace with high demand and deliver against our plan to sell more than 5 million Kinect sensors worldwide by the end of this year.”

Before the Kinect launch, Microsoft raised its worldwide sales forecast from 3 million to 5 million sensors sold by year-end. Kinect launched in North America on Nov. 4, followed by Europe on Nov. 10, and will land next in Asia (Nov. 18) and Japan (Nov. 20). By this holiday, controller-free games and entertainment will reach more than 60,000 retailers in 38 countries with up to 17 Kinect games available.

“We have seen tremendous excitement from customers for Kinect for Xbox 360,” said Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of the home entertainment group at Best Buy. “There were lines of customers at our stores all over the country on the night of the Kinect launch, and thousands more are trying it for themselves in our stores every day. It’s no surprise Microsoft has already surpassed 1 million units sold, and we expect Kinect to be one of the must-have gifts at Best Buy this holiday.”

For Xbox 360 consumers worldwide, Kinect provides a unique and exciting way to access and interact with entertainment. With just the wave of a hand or the sound of a voice, consumers can play games, stream music, watch HD movies and live ESPN sporting events, and engage in video chat.2

Microsoft also recently announced that the more than 25 million Xbox LIVE members have spent more than 1 billion hours on the service a month, an average of over 40 hours per member. In addition to Xbox 360 console momentum, and the ever-expanding service and content library of Xbox LIVE, Microsoft released franchise games such as “Halo: Reach” and “Fable III” to hordes of devoted fans this fall, as well as announcing that Xbox 360 will be the first console to launch add-on content for all “Call of Duty” titles through 2012, helping drive industry software sales. With Xbox 360, Kinect and Xbox LIVE, Microsoft is proving to be a leading gaming and social entertainment service in the living room and the industry this holiday.

Kinect for Xbox 360 is an approachable, simple and affordable experience that the whole family can enjoy. No gadgets, gizmos or additional controllers are required. There are several opportunities for new and current consumers to literally jump into the action:

• Kinect for Xbox 360 sensor. For consumers who already have an Xbox 360 console, the stand-alone Kinect for Xbox 360, at an estimated retail price (ERP) of $149.99 (U.S.), includes the Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures” and works with all of the 45 million Xbox 360 consoles currently in homes worldwide.3

• Xbox 360 4GB console with Kinect. For new Xbox consumers, the Xbox 360 4GB console with Kinect, priced at $299.99 ERP (U.S.), includes the new flat black Xbox 360 4GB console, Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures,” which will have families off the couch and enjoying entertainment quickly and easily.

• Xbox 360 250GB console with Kinect. For the serious entertainment experts in the family, the Xbox 360 250GB console with Kinect, priced at $399.99 ERP (U.S.), includes the glossy black Xbox 360 250GB console, Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures” and provides more memory to store movies, music and more.

More information on Xbox 360 and Kinect for Xbox 360 is available at http://www.xbox.com/Kinect orhttp://www.facebook.com/xbox.”

Last Updated: November 16, 2010

24 Comments

  1. Aussious

    November 16, 2010 at 08:16

    Its funny because Vgchartz put their estimated numbers at 1.3 M, which would mean that their 475k first day estimate was actually not that far off so not sure what Greenberg was laughing at. I was also unimpressed initially until I found out that 1 Million = to 250 Million dollars, meaning they’ve already made back half of that money spent on marketing…

    Reply

  2. Steve Hofmeyr

    November 16, 2010 at 08:28

    I remember the fanboys laughing at the 3 million sales target Msoft set. Funny how the laughs disappeared.

    I’m going to be an asshole and quote some comments. I won’t add names:

    “I’m gonna say less than 1 million”
    “Balls!! If kinect sells 3 million over the christmas season I will personally lick Assious’s balls” (LOL!!)
    “I predict Kinect will sell a million over the holidays and if the rumours are true and 3DS is launching in the States in Novemeber i dont even think it will reach a million.”

    Reply

  3. al360

    November 16, 2010 at 08:51

    i think the porn industry has picket the 500 000 units so far and by year end would’ve picked 4 of the 5 mil
    hehehehe :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

    Reply

  4. al360

    November 16, 2010 at 08:51

    doh!! picked

    Reply

  5. Geoffrey Tim

    November 16, 2010 at 08:52

    I think for such an expensive peripheral that nobody really needs, it’s done exceptionally well – and may even make that 3 million by the holidays.

    Reply

  6. RSA-Ace

    November 16, 2010 at 08:54

    Well they aren’t making them for free. So no they aren’t even close to making half of what they spent on marketing.

    It’ll take 5 million before they pay off their marketing budget.

    Reply

  7. Gavin Mannion

    November 16, 2010 at 08:56

    I do feel sorry for Mr Pearce on that second one. He is very likely to lose that one

    Reply

  8. RSA-Ace

    November 16, 2010 at 09:00

    It certainly sold more than I thought. And with Black Friday coming up in america they should get around 2 million before the end of the month. I’ll say 4 million by year end.

    I guess marketing really does pay off!

    Reply

  9. Ndibu

    November 16, 2010 at 09:13

    Names!! We demand names!

    Reply

  10. Fox1

    November 16, 2010 at 09:24

    Kinect is alos catching on locally regardless of it’s high price :za:

    Reply

  11. Fox1

    November 16, 2010 at 09:25

    Doh! also

    Reply

  12. BHW

    November 16, 2010 at 09:26

    It took Wii Fit over a month to sell a million units and that sold over 20 million and counting.

    Reply

  13. Steve Hofmeyr

    November 16, 2010 at 09:35

    Like Nick said, photo’s or it never happened.

    Reply

  14. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 16, 2010 at 10:58

    That roughly translates into 1 million suckers!

    Reply

  15. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 16, 2010 at 10:59

    Oh dear god, I hope not. Please South African gamers show that you’re not in the least bit as retarded as the yanks.

    Reply

  16. ewie

    November 16, 2010 at 11:22

    Kinect is fun, the kids enjoy it and play a lot.

    This is a winner. Not for “hardcore” gamers but for everyone else.

    It will sell a lot, Lifetime 10 – 20 Million.

    Reply

  17. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 16, 2010 at 11:31

    Kids should play outside in the sun, otherwise they’ll develop rickets.

    Reply

  18. Steve Hofmeyr

    November 16, 2010 at 11:49

    @ Bobby
    Remember Kinect’s demographic -> kids.

    Reply

  19. doobiwan

    November 16, 2010 at 11:49

    What were the move numbers again … oh yeah 140k …
    http://www.lazygamer.co/preliminary-playstation-move-sales-figures/

    Reply

  20. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 16, 2010 at 12:20

    @Steve

    Are you saying kids are retarded nowadays? :whistle:

    Reply

  21. Aussious

    November 16, 2010 at 14:10

    Why am I not over joyed at this prospect… I’ll settle 4 a video of mr peace making gat of himself playing dance central wearing a T shirt dt says I am Bill Gates bitch.

    Reply

  22. Bobby Kotick for Dummies

    November 16, 2010 at 14:31

    HAAHAHAH!! Indeed!

    Reply

  23. Steve Hofmeyr

    November 16, 2010 at 16:51

    Well, they are the ones playing Kinect so…
    Where they ever NOT retarded? :ninja:

    Reply

  24. M@GE

    November 16, 2010 at 19:14

    Oh Bobby you’re such a cute thing when you’re insecure :wub:

    Reply

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