Xbox, PC Game Sales Jump 85% In Microsoft's Q3

Microsoft has announced the financial results of its third quarter ended March 31st, showing its entertainment division sales up 68 percent to $1.58 billion driven by demand for Xbox 360 hardware, in a quarter that saw company-wide sales of $14.45 billion. Sales were up from $936 million the year prior. Xbox and PC game sales, specifically, increased 85 percent over the year prior during the quarter to $418 million, primarily driven by Xbox 360 consoles, games, and Xbox Live revenue. During the quarter, Microsoft shipped 1.3 million Xbox 360 consoles, compared to 0.5 million in the third quarter a year earlier. Microsoft's nine-month results thus far have shown entertainment division sales of $6.57 billion, up from $4.92 billion the year before. $1.4 billion of that was due to Xbox and PC game sales, again driven by consoles, Xbox Live, accessories, and Halo 3. During those nine months, Microsoft shipped 7.5 million Xbox 360s, compared to 5.9 million during the same period the year prior. The company says that it expects its fourth quarter sales to increase due to "increased sales of Xbox 360 consoles and related games, accessories, and services."