Microsoft Sells Nearly 1 Million Xbox 360s In Record Week In Xbox History

The aging Xbox 360 just recorded the biggest sales week in its not-quite-venerable history, moving nearly one million units over the seven day period, specifically selling more than 960,000 consoles in the U.S. during the week of Black Friday. For a console that's entering the seventh year of its product lifestyle, that's one very impressive statistic. Of course, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the pivotal factors here, but the numbers themselves are still stellar, to say the very least.

According to Microsoft:

· Xbox 360 sold more than 960,000 consoles in the U.S. alone, with more than 800,000 sold within a period of 24 hours.

· More than 750,000 Kinect for Xbox 360 sensors were sold in the U.S. – standalone and bundled.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 has been the top-selling game console for nearly every month in the last year, mostly driven by the breakout success of the Kinect, the motion-sensing entertainment device that has rekindled interest in Xbox games (those that support the Kinect). Furthermore, according to Microsoft, in addition to games on Dec. 6th, the next generation of television entertainment will begin with the availability of a new Xbox 360 experience, and the launch of the first group of custom entertainment apps on Xbox LIVE. "By the end of the year, nearly 40 world-leading TV and entertainment providers, including Comcast and HBO GO, will be available on Xbox LIVE."

The momentum of both the Kinect and the coming new app platform is what Microsoft expects to ride into its next product cycle, most probable to debut at E3 in 2012. That also means that the Xbox 360 is near the end of its lifecycle, but is stil steadily churning out the sales. If these stats continue, Microsoft should be on track to have huge holiday sales next month. Readers, what do you think of the Kinect and upcoming app platform, and the new Xbox set to debut soon?

[via Official Microsoft Blog]