MSN is citing unnamed N. American retailer and analyst sources as claiming that XBox 360 outsold both Sony's PS3 and Nintendo's Wii consoles. The news story, appearing on the MSN website, claims that Microsoft's console took advantage of the Wii and PS3 shortages and provided a solution for many disappointed consumers who missed their chance to get one of the new consoles.
Until independent sources can confirm the figures behind this claim we will have to remain skeptical as to the exact nature and magnitude of Microsoft's triumph although we have to recognize that Microsoft took advantage of the shortages by introducing several tempting X360 bundles.
In Canada Microsoft Game Studios was offering a three game deal with a system with a 20GB hard drive and an extra controller at one retailer for USD 449.99. One of the free games was Gears of War and when that sold out gamers could get the new Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and Xbox Live Arcade: Unplugged. Microsoft also dropped game and peripheral prices all over the U.S. in an attempt to cash in on its rivals' shortages.
Retailers had a great four-day run and pretty much everything is gone. Sony dropped the ball and Nintendo didn't do that much better, said one Great Canadian Superstore electronics store manager who wished to remain anonymous. They over-promised and under delivered in terms of the quantity of Wii systems that were available. Sony on the other hand warned everyone that supplies would be severely limited. Microsoft was the big winner. They had lots of systems and they had them priced right with game bundles that gamers were interested in.
This news remains of little practical value as the real next-gen battlefield, just as Bill Gates said earlier this week, will be this coming holiday season when rivals should have enough quantities in store shelves to begin making their presence felt in the market.
