Microsoft CFO: 13-15 Million Xbox 360s By June 2007

According to reports from the conference call immediately following Microsoft's financial announcement yesterday, the company's CFO, Chris Liddell has revealed a new target for Xbox 360 hardware sales. Liddell commented during the earnings call that the company is aiming for 13 million to 15 million Xbox 360 consoles sold by the end of the next financial year, which is June 20th, 2007 under Microsoft's current financial reporting schedule - a figure backed up by subsequent financial filings. Microsoft noted that it shipped 1.8 million Xbox 360 video game console units in the quarter, according to a slide presentation on its website, and that its Xbox Live service numbers 3 million users as of the end of its fiscal quarter. In a separate filing, the company revealed: "This brings our installed base through June to 5 million consoles with 3.3 million in North America, 1.3 million in Europe and 400,000 in the rest of the world." This is within the boundaries of the most recently announced goals for Xbox 360 - the company announced in April that it wanted "five to five and a half million Xbox 360s to ship to stores worldwide before June 30th." It was also cited by the Microsoft Home & Entertainment team's Entertainment & Devices division: "By holiday 2006, we believe we will have shipped more than 10 million Xbox 360 consoles worldwide and have an expected catalog of 160 high-definition games. The E&D team is carrying strong momentum into FY07 with anticipated growth expected to benefit from holiday sales of Xbox 360. E&D forecasts fiscal year 2007 guidance for Xbox 360 unit sales between 8 to 10 million consoles. The yearly guidance implies that by the end of the fiscal year we expect to sell 13 to 15 million Xbox 360 consoles since launch." Also mentioned was confirmation of the HD-DVD add-on shipping later this year for the console: "Accessory momentum is expected to continue at a record setting pace given forthcoming wireless accessories including the new Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel and Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, not to mention the Xbox 360 HD DVD player coming this holiday."