Microsoft Touts 17 Percent Year-To-Date Sales Growth For Xbox 360 In Tough Economy

On the heels of August's NPD results, Microsoft is again asserting its position as "the only console showing year-to-date growth in the U.S. this year despite the tough economy." The company says the 215,000 Xbox 360 units sold in August help build a 17 percent rise in year-over-year sales for the console. Microsoft also claims August's top-selling game in the Xbox 360 SKU of Madden NFL 10, and points to its trend of leading third-party software sales this year with a total $130.4 million during the month. On the Xbox Live front, Microsoft says this year's "Summer of Arcade" campaign was doubly as successful as last year's in terms of sales, thanks to games including Shadow Complex, Trials HD and Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Microsoft recently cut the price of its highest-end Elite SKU to $299, placing it in direct confrontation with Sony's redesigned and price-reduced PS3 Slim. Both platform-holders are hoping price cuts will drive further growth in the key holiday season, as the industry overall struggles to compensate for months of sales declines throughout the summer. Though it declined to provide stats, Microsoft said that since cutting the Elite price, sales in the first week are "surpassing our expectations."