Global Xbox sales hit 40m

The Xbox 360 has now sold over 40m units worldwide since it was first launched in late 2005.

The news comes as Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division reports yet another successful quarter, with the three months ending March 31 delivering profits $165m. Revenue hit $1.67bn – up from $1.63bn in the same period the year before.

It was also revealed that the cost of manufacturing an Xbox 360 console has dropped 22 per cent year-on-year, though Xbox Live operating costs have risen.

The Division’s nine-month results show profits soaring 242 per cent to $851m. Revenue stands at $6.46bn, down five per cent of 2008/09. 8.8m Xbox 360 consoles have been shipped in the period. In the same period the year before the firm shipped 10m consoles.

Game sales in the period across both PC and Xbox 360 fell by $240m. Both software and hardware revenue was down, though Xbox Live revenue has increased.

Overall Microsoft reported record revenues of $14.5bn for the quarter – a six per cent year-on-year increase – with profit hitting $4.01bn.