Microsoft eyes 10 million Xbox target

Microsoft says it is still on target to ship 10 million Xbox 360 units this year, according to figures released as part of its financial results.

The company says it has so far sold six million games consoles in 2006.

The total figure has only risen by one million units since Microsoft announced five million sales in July, but the company is confident as it heads into the traditionally busy Christmas period.

However, the Xbox 360 will face competition next month from Nintendo's cheaper Wii console, which is released worldwide, as well as Sony's Playstation 3, which makes it US debut in the same month.

Sales of Microsoft's next-generation games console have helped its Entertainment and Devices Division increase its revenue by 70 per cent year-on-year.

A company statement said: "This was driven by demand for Xbox 360 consoles, software, peripherals and Xbox Live."

Xbox Live, Microsoft's online gaming service, passed the four million subscriber mark.

Overall, Microsoft posted an 11 per cent rise in profits for the period ending September 30.

The company had an operating income of $4.47bn (£2.36bn), from $10.81bn (£5.71bn) total revenue.

See also:

Playstation 3 titles announced

Sony unveils first games and peripherals with details of online gaming  20 Oct 2006

Sony slashes Playstation 3 price

20 percent cut follows high-definition boost for rival Xbox  22 Sep 2006

Xbox gets high-definition

1080p resolution and £90 HD-DVD drive pre-empts key advantage of rival PS3 console  20 Sep 2006

Xbox 360 to hit 10 million, says Gates

Gates swoops into E3 expo unannounced  10 May 2006

Playstation 3 could shape future of Blu-ray

Games console - and PC optical drives - will help decide the dominant next-gen DVD player  09 May 2006

Nintendo Revolution renamed Wii

Why?  27 Apr 2006

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