By Matthew Henry

SYDNEY: Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has recorded the most successful opening week for a games console in Australia with 30,421 sales in the first four days, outselling Sony’s PlayStation Portable by 3,366 units to claim the launch week sales record.

The Xbox 360 also eclipsed opening week sales of the original Xbox launched in March 2002, which sold just 6,672 units in the same period. The next generation console recorded an almost tenfold increase over the PS2’s first four days of sales in November 2000.

“The Xbox 360 has set a new benchmark for a console launch in Australia,” said GfK senior games analyst, Daniel Morse.

Harvey Norman general manager – computers and communications, Rutland Smith, has also reported strong demand for the console through Harvey Norman stores during the launch week.

“We’ve been very pleased with the sales results to date, the launch has exceeded our expectations,” Smith told current.com.au.

Gfk data shows retailers are selling an average of 2.6 games per console, and Smith says sales of accessories have been strong.

“Most customers are trying to maximise their Xbox 360 experience and they are buying additional games and accessories. The number one selling accessory is the wireless controller,” he said.

Microsoft is confident that the result bodes well for sales in the next generation games console market, which will get into full swing when Sony launches the PlayStation 3 later this year.

“We have set a high water mark and it looks like we will easily reach our launch window forecast. Australians are jumping into the next generation of gaming in a big way,” said Xbox regional director – Australia and New Zealand, David MacLean.

MacLean is ‘tremendously excited’ about the reaction from Australian gamers to the Xbox 360, but according to Morse, the battle for dominance in the next generation games console market has only just begun.

“This has been a very successful launch, Microsoft has been the first to market out of the next generation and 30,000 consumers have picked it up, but only time will tell which console will come out on top,” he said.