Microsoft Claims Xbox 360 Shortage
February 14, 2008 | by Geoff Duncan
After selling 1.3 million Xbox 360s over the holidays, Microsoft's head of global marketing says post-holiday demand has created a...shortage?
It may be hard to believe that at video game console that's been on the market two years could suddenly be in such high demand that retailers are experiencing shortages—but that's exactly what Microsoft's head of global marketing Jeff Bell said in an interview with Reuters. Microsoft sold 1.3 million Xbox 360's during the end-of-year holidays, but Bell is claiming the company failed to judge post-holiday demand and didn't get enough units to retailers. "We are really running short of product here in the United States," said Bell. "You could say we misjudged demand."
Microsoft's claim of Xbox 360 shortages lands just one day before market research firm NPD is due to announce video game sales figures for January 2008. Bell's comments might be intended to position lower-than-expected Xbox 360 sales figures as the result of a shortage, rather than reduced consumer demand.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 has been on the market since late 2005, and competes primarily with the Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3, which both launched a year later. After a year, Nintendo is still not able to keep up with demand for it's surprisingly popular Wii console, and anticipates retail shortages for its system could extend through spring of 2008.
Post Your Comment...Comments
Kev50027 on Feb 16th, 2008 at 10:42 PM:
Stan is wrong, I have looked for stores within hundreds of miles of here, and NONE of them have 360's (non Arcade versions) in stock.
I have been waiting to upgrade my Halo3 edition for a while, and no retailers here have had 360's in weeks. It's driving me insane, and there was an article (and a crap load of comments confirming this) on Engadget in January.
Dynasty on Feb 18th, 2008 at 10:56 AM:
I agree with Stan. This is such crap. They are not in high demand, they are just trying to make excuses for losing out to the PS3. Especially since they took the wrong side in the dvd format war and PS3 was on the winning end.
beaks on Feb 21st, 2008 at 5:30 PM:
could be that so many of them take a crap that they need to keed up on replacements. im on my 3rd one.
Josh on Feb 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 AM:
obviously this is true and stan is a PS3 fanboy. The Xbox 360 is in short supply because there are many stores here in Atlanta that son't have any 360's. The ones that have them only have the Arcade. One of my friends is upset because he got a giftcard for Christmas and was forced to buy and arcade and a hard drive. Also Gamestop confirmed this when the stated that the 360 was selling too fast and they did not have enough stock to fill the demand
Gamestop quote taken from:
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/gamestop-sh...
Jippers on Jun 12th, 2008 at 2:26 AM:
There is a shortage, I live in the UK in Cornwall and there isn't a single 360 of any version available in Argos, let alone most other stores and there is none in the warehouses either...they are waiting on units from microsoft..
And I want a 360 again!
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Stan on Feb 14th, 2008 at 9:43 AM:
Umm this is BS. Every store I go to has an Xbox 360. I think they are just pretending to have a shortage to create hype that will make people want to buy one. "Let's copy Nintendo!"
Original guys...I think there is a shortage of people wanting an Xbox.