Microsoft to sell 5.5 million Xbox 360 consoles by June 2006

Microsoft is forecasting initial sales of between 4.5 and 5.5 million units worldwide for its Xbox 360 console by June 2006.

Chris Liddell

According to a report in the Official Xbox Magazine, Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell has predicted Xbox 360 sales of between 4.5 and 5.5 million by June 2006, and has stated that the company’s focus is on a steady supply of the consoles, as opposed to having a huge volume of Xbox 360s available on launch day:

“Whereas others have shipped significant volumes [of consoles] for launch and then resupplied many weeks or months later, our process is to continually supply the channel on a regular basis.”

This approach will almost certainly mean that there will be a worldwide console shortage at launch, and many gamers may not be able to purchase their Xbox 360 before Christmas 2005.

However, Liddell argues that steadily supplying retailers with Xbox 360 consoles at regular intervals

“provides predictability to retailers and consumers around product availability.”

Such a strategy could likely mean that even gamers who miss out on getting their hands on an Xbox 360 on launch day will not have to wait weeks or months for the next batch of consoles to hit their local retailer’s shelves.

Source: Official Xbox Magazine

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