Microsoft is now boasting that its Xbox 360 gaming console had its “best ever” Christmas sales in Europe, pushing overall sales in the region to just over 8 million consoles.
Unit sales were almost double year-on-year and Microsoft also noted that they are leading the Sony PlayStation 3 by over one million units.
“2008 saw us grow faster than any of our competitors and we over-achieved in sales during the crucial Christmas selling period,” added Chris Lewis, regional VP of Microsoft’s Xbox business in Europe.
“With eight million consoles sold since we launched, and consistently out-selling PlayStation 3 in EMEA, we’re poised to build on this success in 2009.
“This success was only possible through our partnerships with retail and with publishers, with whom we’ve worked closely to build a strong ecosystem in the region and to bring value to our shared customer base.”
“As we move into 2009 and an uncertain economic climate, we continue to be committed to offering the right blend of gaming and entertainment experiences at the right price,” concluded Lewis.
Result for: partnership
Microsoft has announced that it has made deals with Sony BMG and MTV to add their content to its free MSN video service.
Currently the service has offerings from National Geographic and ITN but will now add shows such as “Pimp My Ride” and music videos.
The deal with Sony BMG will put exclusive videos, backstage footage, interviews, and tour info on MSN Video.
“The music industry is facing tough challenges and it is all now about becoming a music entertainment company rather than just a record company”, said Ulrich Jarkel, senior vice president, Digital and Business Development Sony BMG.
“The whole game has changed. We now have over 150 ways to access Justin Timberlake content for example.”
MTV has made similar deals in the recent past, giving users access to South Park, Pimp My Ride, Punk’d, Cribs and Soapbox.
“This is one of our most important partnerships”, said Gideon Bierer, senior vice president, Digital Media, MT, “we will be adding other MTV network brands in the future from channels such as Nickelodeon and Comedy Central”.
The service is available in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden and the US. It will launch in Belgium, Denmark and Norway later this year.
Result for: partnership
Microsoft and Paramount have announced a new partnership in which the movie studio will offer films via the Live Video Store beginning on February 19th.
The first Title to hit the service will be the blockbuster “Transformers” and new and existing titles will continue to trickle in. New titles from Warner Bros. will also be hitting the service including Beowulf, and The Assassination of Jesse James.
“We’re very excited to announce this new relationship,” Paramount’s Alex Carlos added. “We have lots of great content that fits this demographic. We’re excited about digital distribution, especially being on a platform as elegant as Xbox 360.”
And Robin Burrowes, Xbox Live UK marketing manager, continued, “This announcement gives our Video Store customers in the UK an even greater choice of entertainment, with a great level of HD movie quality, as always.”
The store launched in the UK in December and allows users to purchase digital downloads of Standard Definition or High Definition movies. You have two weeks to watch the content or 24 hours to finish it after you’ve begun watching.
Each title will cost 250 Microsoft Points for SD and 380 Microsoft Points for HD.
The full list of titles are as follows:
Transformers (SD and HD)
Goodbye Bafana (SD and HD)
Intersection (SD only)
Primal Fear (SD only)
Clear and Present Danger (SD only)
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