Skip to main content

Microsoft Ramping Up Xbox 360 Shipments

Microsoft Corporation announced today an “inventory surge” which will put “two to three times” the number of Xbox 360 gaming systems into retail channels beginning this week. Since its launch in November 2005, Microsoft’s new gaming platform has been hindered by limited availability in the U.S. and European markets.

“Today we have turned a major corner,” said Peter Moore, corporate VP of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “With more consoles on their way to retail, 80 games available by June, and new content and experiences coming to Xbox Live all the time, there has never been a better time to own an Xbox 360.”

Recommended Videos

Microsoft is also promoting a number of forthcoming Xbox 360 games from major game publishers which should increase the appeal of the console system to gamers looking for the latest and greatest, graphically intense experiences, as well as content expansions for Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, Project Gotham Racing 3, Perfect Dark: Zero, and Kameo: Elements of Power. Forthcoming Xbox 360 titles include:

  • 2006 FIFA World Cup (EA SPORTS)
  • Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (Electronic Arts Inc.)
  • Blazing Angels (Ubisoft)
  • Burnout Revenge (Electronic Arts)
  • Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires (KOEI)
  • Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks/2K Games)
  • Far Cry Instincts Predator (Ubisoft)
  • FINAL FANTASY XI (Square Enix Inc.)
  • Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (Ubisoft)
  • Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend (Eidos)
  • Major League Baseball 2K6 (2K Sports)
  • Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (Rockstar Games)
  • Rumble Roses XX (Konami)
  • Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting
  • Texas Hold ‘Em Poker (free!) (Riverbelle)
  • The Outfit (THQ)
  • Top Spin 2 (2K Sports)
  • X-Men: The Official Game (Activision)

According to Microsoft, more than 85 percent of Xbox 360 consoles that are connected to the Internet have downloaded games, movie trailers, and videos from Microsoft’s Xbox Live service. Xbox 360 systems will launch March 23, 2006 in Australia and New Zealand.

Although Microsoft’s move to push the Xbox 360 harder in the retail marketplace as manufacturing capacity comes online, costs go down, and more games become available was expected even before the systems were launched, today’s announcement follows just on the heels off Sony’s announcement that it’s forthcoming Playstation 3 gaming console wouldn’t be available until November 2006, giving Microsoft a full year to establish the Xbox 360 in the market ahead of the current leader in console game systems.

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Microsoft and Nike team up to create Jordan-inspired Xbox One
Nike Xbox One Collaboration

While Microsoft gears up to release its new Xbox Series X console later this year, it's not done with the Xbox One yet. The company teamed up with Nike’s Jordan brand to create a gorgeous, custom Xbox One, which one lucky Twitter user can win.

The limited-edition console is modeled after Nike’s new Air Jordan III Retro U sneaker. It comes with a bright red paint job, similar to the Chicago Bulls signature color, and Nike’s famous "Jumpman" logo appears right on top of the console. It even features a textured pattern similar to the one on the shoes themselves.

Read more
Microsoft offers up to $20,000 to identify security vulnerabilities in Xbox Live
Xbox One S All-Digital Edition review

When it comes to securing complex products, companies are increasingly turning to bug bounty programs to invite members of the public to find security vulnerabilities. Google's bug bounty program handed out $6.5 million last year, and Apple recently expanded its program to cover macOS bugs as well as iOS bugs.

Now Microsoft is expanding its own bug bounty program from covering software like its Office suite and its Edge browser to also covering the Xbox Live network and services. The company will pay out rewards to anyone who can find and reproduce a security vulnerability in the Xbox Live system.

Read more
Microsoft just opened up the Xbox Console Streaming preview to all Xbox Insiders
Now everyone can try playing their Xbox One games on an Android phone
Project xCloud running on Android phone

Microsoft has been slowly rolling out access to its Xbox Console Streaming for Xbox One since late last year, but that has all just changed. Now, anyone who's in the Xbox Insider Program can check out the Xbox Console Streaming preview.

There, are still some limitations, as mentioned in Microsoft's announcement. First of all, you'll have to be a part of the Xbox Insider program, but anyone with an Xbox account can sign up to join the program. The Xbox Console Streaming app is also currently only available on Android (6.0 or higher) phones and tablets, so iPhone and iPad users are out of luck.

Read more