2014 definitely ended on a high for the Xbox One console. Beating the
sales of its predecessor, the Xbox 360, by 50% at its equivalent life
cycle point, and being the best selling console in the US for both
November and December meant the year could not have finished much better for Xbox One and Microsoft. For those yet to make the jump to Xbox One, there is yet another offer to entice you over. Mike Nichols, Corporate Vice President of Marketing for Xbox, is on hand to give you a quick run through of the offer.
Building off a record-setting holiday, we are excited to announce a new promotion in which fans in the U.S. can buy an Xbox One at a special price of $349 from their preferred retailer. We are thankful for all the excitement for Xbox One this holiday and proud to offer more fans the amazing games lineup, Xbox Live gaming community, and continual innovation that Xbox One fans have come to enjoy.As well as the console itself doing well, Xbox One games sold more than any other console’s games in November and December in the US. There were also eight Xbox-exclusive titles to receive Game of the Year Awards, as well as 67 nominations from the media. Let’s not forget about the Xbox 360 though, as it too deserves credit for becoming the best-selling seventh generation console of all time in the US (you guys sure do love your Xbox!)
Moving onto to 2015 and looking to the future, this looks to be an exciting and promising year for Xbox. The Halo 5: Guardians BETA has attracted 18 million gamers so far, and the announcement of Forza Motorsport 6 continues to prove the Xbox exclusive titles are here to stay. There’s plenty to look forward to this year, no matter what your taste, including Rise of the Tomb Raider, Evolve, ScreamRide, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Battlefield Hardline.
It isn’t just about the games though, as Xbox One Apps are becoming
increasingly popular as more and more release on the console. 2014 saw Apps such as HBO GO, Showtime Anytime, Pandora, ReddX, GoPro, and Twitch broadcasting come to light, with lots more planned for 2015. The community spent 8 billion hours on Apps last year alone, which was a 50% increase on the previous year. Do you think even more time will be spent on them in 2015?
Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, promises that Xbox One will be continually updated as the year goes on, and that fan feedback is important and of great help to them. He says, “Since it launched last year, Xbox Feedback has been instrumental in helping us best determine what our fans want and expect from us, and it’s clear that the Xbox One wouldn’t be what it is today without their valued input”. Watch the video below to see Phil Spencer talk you through what is to come in 2015.
We are promised updates, Apps, games, and more across the whole of 2015, so prepare yourself for a great year for Xbox!