http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/01/microsoft-says-360-elite-is-just-so-hot-right-now-no-sku-change/

Naturally curious as to why Xbox 360 Elites are so difficult to find, we went straight to the source -- and Microsoft tells us that demand is simply outstripping supply on the 360 Elite right now, and that no model lineup changes are planned at this time -- especially since the Elite is their hot seller. Well, so much for that conspiracy -- guess we're back to reading the PS3 tea leaves.

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 How can MS not be meeting demand?  Are they phasing out older models to introduce a new one in March or something?  Especially online at sites like gamestop it has back ordered for ages. Just seems like a missed apportunity by MS.

Went today to local game store and they said they didn't recieve one console (arcade , elite , premium 360) in 2 weeks. They also ran out of Wiis and Ds'.

^Really? now 360 is sold out? The DS and Wii being sold out are hardly surprising.

wiiforever -

The issue is that last year, at the same time, nearly 2 million X360s were sitting.

So manufacturers and retailers didn't order that much, predicting the Wii/PS3's demands would outstrip any sort of X360 sales increases. So when they did increase strongly, the supply wasn't there.

I'd expect a pretty large Q1 shipment. Nowhere near the Wii, but could be near 2m - more than any other Q1 shipment for the 360.