Microsoft sees extra-good sales for Xbox 360 in 2008

Microsoft is calling 2008 the best year yet for its video-game business.

The company has sold 28 million Xbox 360s globally since launching in November 2005. Console sales increased 58 percent over 2007.

At year's end, Microsoft tallied 17 million members of the Xbox Live online entertainment service, which has become a highlight of the business, up 70 percent for the year.

"This is fueled by not just strong holiday results but across the full year," said Aaron Greenberg, Xbox director of product management.

Microsoft now counts an 8 million unit lead over Sony's PlayStation 3, up from a 5 million to 6 million unit lead before the holiday season, he said.

Greenberg added that the information Microsoft has gathered from retailers suggest that both the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii, which has a commanding console sales lead, had year-over-year growth during the holidays.

Sony described its holiday sales as "solid" and said it has delivered "consistent growth throughout this year."

Ian Jackson, vice president of sales at Sony Computer Entertainment America, said U.S. PlayStation 3 hardware sales increased 130 percent during the holidays compared with the weeks prior.

"We're also seeing a growth of nearly 40 percent in total PS3 hardware sales for the calendar year," he said.

Greenberg said Microsoft was most pleased with the performance of Xbox Live, its online entertainment network.

Earlier this year, the company announced consumers had spent $1 billion on downloadable content — including add-ons for games, television shows and movies — from Xbox Live since Microsoft launched the Xbox 360.

While Microsoft isn't updating the revenue figure, it did say online revenue rose 84 percent in 2008 from 2007.

Benjamin J. Romano: 206-464-2149 or bromano@seattletimes.com