Microsoft Claims Top Consumer Spend For 360 In October

Using newly released NPD Group data, Microsoft has proclaimed the Xbox 360 as leading consumer spending in the U.S. during October, with total revenues of $354 million, compared to $246 million for the Wii and $116 million for the PlayStation 3. A Microsoft Game Studios press release also highlights that Xbox 360 software revenue exceeded that of both Wii and PS3 combined, with Xbox 360 titles Halo 3 and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock at number one and two in the console software charts. During October, Xbox 360 software represented 54 percent of total software revenue from next generation consoles at $162 million, compared to 30 percent for the Wii and 16 percent for the PlayStation 3. However, comparisons with the Wii in terms of revenues are balanced in Microsoft’s favor, given the lower retail prices of Nintendo’s format. Microsoft also claims that gamers continue to show a preference for third party titles on the Xbox 360, with the console generating more than double the software revenue of the PS3 and Wii. Third party Xbox 360 software revenue represented 57 percent of the total at $130 million, with the Wii on 28 percent and the PlayStation 3 at 15 percent. Although comparisons in terms of profits or volume of sales (or the relative size of the three console manufacturer’s first party development resources) were not mentioned, Microsoft do point out that since November there have been 29 third party Xbox 360 games in the top ten, compared to two each for the Wii and PlayStation 3.