Xbox Series X|S Achieves 2 Million UK Sales Milestone, Outpacing Switch but Lagging Older Generations

In a recent report analyzing sales data from GfK, Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S console has reached an impressive milestone of over 2 million units sold in the United Kingdom (UK). This achievement, attained within 128 weeks since its November 2020 launch, surpasses the Nintendo Switch's sales timeline by 12 weeks.

However, when compared to its predecessors, such as the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, as well as Sony's PS5, the Xbox Series X|S took a bit longer to hit this milestone. Let's delve deeper into the factors influencing these sales figures.

According to the GfK report, the Xbox Series X|S has generated an impressive £696 million in revenue during its journey to 2 million sales in the UK. While outpacing the Nintendo Switch in reaching this milestone, it is important to note that Microsoft's previous consoles, the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, achieved this feat faster.

The Xbox One, in particular, remains the fastest-selling Xbox system in the UK, reaching 2 million sales within 104 weeks. The Xbox 360 closely followed, achieving the milestone in 110 weeks. In comparison, Sony's PS5 accomplished the same in 98 weeks, further highlighting the Xbox Series X|S's comparatively slower pace.

The Xbox Series X|S has faced significant challenges due to supply constraints and high demand. Throughout 2020-21, the gaming industry experienced a surge in demand for consoles, which resulted in supply shortages. Component shortages have also contributed to the difficulty in securing an Xbox Series X|S console.

While the market has stabilized to some extent over the past year, finding available stock can still be challenging, particularly for the Series X model. It's worth mentioning that these supply issues have not only affected Microsoft but also rival consoles like the PS5.

Simultaneously, the European Commission has recently announced its approval of Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a move that has drawn significant attention.

This acquisition, valued at $69 billion, holds promising prospects for the future. However, it's worth noting that both the United States Federal Trade Commission and the UK's Competition and Market Authority have taken steps to block the deal, adding an element of uncertainty to its outcome.

Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S console has achieved an impressive milestone of over 2 million sales in the UK, outperforming the Nintendo Switch by 12 weeks. However, it falls behind previous Xbox generations, such as the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, as well as Sony's PS5.

Supply constraints and component shortages have significantly impacted the availability of Xbox Series X|S consoles, making it challenging for consumers to purchase one. The European Commission's approval of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard adds an interesting dimension to the gaming industry's future.