Microsoft's latest conference from a few of days ago revealed some pretty solid Xbox 360 figures and predictions, despite all the public attention that's being channelled towards Sony and Nintendo these days. By the end of June, Microsoft had already managed to sell over 5 million Xbox 360 units worldwide - just as they promised last year, and their expectations for the year ahead are twice that ambitious. According to the conference highlights posted on the Gamerscore blog (run by several MS employees), the company expects to sell a total of 13 to 15 million Xbox 360 consoles by the end of the next fiscal year in June 2007.

"By holiday 2006, we believe we will have shipped more than 10 million Xbox 360 consoles worldwide and have an expected catalog of 160 high-definition games. The E&D team is carrying strong momentum into FY07 with anticipated growth expected to benefit from holiday sales of Xbox 360. E&D forecasts fiscal year 2007 guidance for Xbox 360 unit sales between 8 to 10 million consoles. The yearly guidance implies that by the end of the fiscal year we will have sold 13 to 15 million Xbox 360 consoles since launch."

Of course, since Microsoft is still losing money with every Xbox 360 they make, such strong sales have a serious impact on the firm's bottom line. Their Home and Entertainment Division's revenues of $1.14 billion (coming primarily from the Xbox hardware and software) are shadowed by losses of $414 million, although the division did report an overall growth of 94%.

Another prediction that should raise a few eyebrows is that, by holiday 2006, Microsofts expects to have a catalog of 160 high-definition games. I don't know about you, but 160 sounds like an awful lot, unless Xbox Live Arcade mini-games are also included. And if they are, it doesn't really count, now does it.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)