Microsoft announced today that it has sold 2.5 million Kinect units in its first 25 days on the market, a number which would seem to put the lie to suggestions that reported inventory shortages of the device aren’t entirely kosher.
The latest Kinect sales report indicates that Microsoft’s reported Kinect inventory issues may not be shenanignan-related at all, but simply a consequence of the thing selling like hotcakes. After punching out one million units in the first ten days of release, Microsoft said today that 25 days on the market has added up to 2.5 million unit sales.
“We are thrilled about the consumer response to Kinect, and are working hard with our retail and manufacturing partners to expedite production and shipments of Kinect to restock shelves as fast as possible to keep up with demand,” said Microsoft’s President of Interactive Entertainment Business Don Mattrick said in a statement. The pace of sales may be slowing a bit; the mark is a worldwide figure but the Kinect wasn’t available outside of North America and Europe until at least ten days after it hit shelves in North America. Sales are almost certain to pick up through December, however, and Mattrick added that Microsoft is well on its way to meeting its target of five million units sold over the holidays.
Earlier today, industry analyst Michael Pachter said that both Microsoft and Sony could be “controlling supply” of the Kinect and Move devices in order to “spur demand.” He noted that Sony shipped 2.5 million Move units in the U.S. and Europe but haven’t sold close to that figure, suggesting that inventory in the field should remain high. With Kinect sales running this hot, however, a shortage on Microsoft’s side of the tracks could be a very real thing indeed.
Source: Gamasutra
