MS: 2008 will be Xbox's first profitable year

June 9th, 2008, 19:32 Posted By: Shrygue

via Computer and Video Games


In 2008 Xbox will enjoy its first year as a profitable business, Microsoft's E&DD boss Robbie Bach has told the San Jose Mercury News.

"That's the first time we've been able to say that," Bach told the newspaper. "That's total Xbox business - service, software and hardware."

The Xbox biz has famously operated in the red in order to spearhead Microsoft into the console business, but Bach's statement comes after Xbox's first ever pair of profitable quarters.

It's got a head start in achieving the year goal then, which is probably partly thanks to a certain game with a 'IV' at the end.

"Recognize that for us, the fact that 'Grand Theft Auto' was a positive event for us is an amazing statement. Because if you think back to last generation, anything associated with 'Grand Theft Auto' was bad and was PlayStation," said Bach.

"And so the idea that we've been able to build an ecosystem and an experience that attracts people who have never thought of being on our platform before is a pretty powerful statement."

Yes it's got GTA, and Xbox is finally making money, but is that enough to stop PS3 steamrolling ahead in Europe? We'll have to wait and see...

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