Xbox System and Games Are Off to Record-Setting Start in Just Four Months
REDMOND, Wash. -- April 8, 2002 --
Hailed widely as "video game of the year" and recipient of multiple industry
awards for excellence, Halo: Combat Evolved has earned the distinguished honor of being
the fastest million-unit seller ever for any next-generation console. According to
NPDFunworldSM, the definitive source for toy and video games industry sales data, Halo:
Combat Evolved recently crossed the magical 1 million mark in sales in the United States
and Canada. Statistically, this means that more than six copies of Halo: Combat Evolved
have been sold every minute of every day since its launch on Nov. 15, 2001.
Halo: Combat Evolved also has played a major role in helping the Xbox video game system
from Microsoft Corp. set additional key sales records in the United States in just four
months following its launch. The following milestones put Xbox on pace for long-term,
worldwide success:
• With nearly four games sold for every system purchased, Xbox has a higher
attach rate than any next-generation console. Data shows that in the four-month period
following the launch of Xbox, owners purchased 1.2 more games with their Xbox system than
PlayStation 2 owners did, helping Xbox achieve 82 percent more software sales than
PlayStation 2.
• In just four months, Xbox has already catapulted to the No. 2 position among
current game console sales.
• Since its launch, Xbox has outperformed PlayStation 2 sales by 25 percent when
comparing system sales during the first four months of each on the market.
"The demand for Halo: Combat Evolved has been incredible from the very
beginning," said Pete Roithmayr, vice president of Merchandising at Electronics
Boutique. "It’s reason alone to own an Xbox. Heck, it’s the reason to play
video games. Halo: Combat Evolved is that good."
"We are thrilled that Halo: Combat Evolved has won over Xbox gamers, with sales
hitting 1 million units at an amazing pace," said Ed Fries, vice president of Xbox
Game Content at Microsoft. "There’s nothing like it anywhere else. It’s
only on Xbox. If you haven’t played Halo: Combat Evolved, you’re missing out on
the best video game experience available."
Indicative of the growing worldwide popularity of the Halo brand, European gamers are also
gravitating to the game less than one month after its launch. According to Chart-Track
Ltd., a reputable marketing research tool on PC software and video games in the United
Kingdom, 86 percent of all Xbox system purchasers have also bought a copy of Halo: Combat
Evolved. Gamers in Japan will get their opportunity to join the worldwide Halo: Combat
Evolved fan base when the game is introduced there on April 25.
According to Fries, Halo: Combat Evolved is only the beginning. "Both Microsoft Game
Studios and our third-party developers in the industry will soon be announcing a large
lineup of amazing new titles and services that will further demonstrate the gaming
experience and graphics performance only available with Xbox."
In February 2002, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences bestowed Halo: Combat
Evolved with its coveted Game of the Year award as well as awards for Outstanding
Achievement in Visual Engineering, Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year and Console
Game of the Year. Equal praise has come from countless magazines and Web sites, including
Game of the Year awards from Electronic Gaming Monthly and IGN.com.
Developed by Bungie Studios, Halo: Combat Evolved is a science-fiction first-person
shooting game that takes place on a mysterious alien ring-world. It’s available in
stores for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).
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