http://www.gamasutra.com/newswire?story=23242

In its monthly NPD U.S. game sales reaction email, Microsoft has trumpeted that its console is the only one on the market to experience year-on-year growth, while noting that Xbox Live downloads have more than doubled from the same period a year ago.

The console sold 330,000 units in the U.S. in March 2009 -- a 25% year-over-year increase, and according to Microsoft, one that flies in the face of its competitors' "double-digit declines".

The company has also revealed that the number of Xbox Live users paying for content on the service has more than doubled since this time last year, with 128% growth in unique users purchasing XBL content -- be it use of Netflix, other video, games, or DLC.

Microsoft has also revealed that the first three months of the year have seen 220% increase in DLC purchases, led by Grand Theft Auto IV and Fallout 3, as well as its own shooter titles Gears of War 2 and Halo 3.

According to its internal numbers, there has been a 62% increase in downloadable game add-ons compared to the same period last year, with 516 pieces of game content released via Xbox Live for 63 titles.

Microsoft can claim three of the top 10 games of the month -- with the overall number one game Resident Evil 5 on its platform; the title's PlayStation 3 version placed fourth. Platform-exclusive first-party RTS Halo Wars placed third, while 2K Sports' Major League Baseball 2K9 placed 10th overall, notably behind Sony's MLB '09: The Show, which slotted in at sixth.

In its email, Microsoft also claims a top 10 appearance with Guitar Hero Metallica, which disagrees with the official chart as released by the NPD Group -- the game does not appear in its official top 10 at all. Microsoft has clarified with Gamasutra that it disregards sales of handheld games to formulate its top 10 -- which strips out third-placed Pokemon Platinum and slots in GH: Metallica at #10.


_________________________________________________________________
So GH: Metallica for the 360 is #11, thereby beating the Wii version. More interesting, Microsoft doesn't even look at handheld games...I guess it's not TOO surprising, but it still seems odd that they'd release press stuff that completely ignores two systems.

Well, one system. You know what I mean.

That also means GTA: CW could be #11 in the overall data since Microsoft wouldn't count it either (its on DS)

Nintendo reaction

this month makes me wonder a bit about the industry, is the recession starting to play an effect?

april will be very telling considering how much Easter effects game sales, plus the launch of a system (dsi) which had a great launch. consumers may have opt'd for a cheaper Easter gift this year, which in turn could effect sales pretty greatly for the spring.

700k?

It isn't inconcievable for the DS to do 1m-1.5m units in April given that DSi sold 300,000 units in two days. I doubt DSlite dropped alot...so your talking maybe 435k/185k/120k/120k ~860k DSi plus (March DS rates/5)(4)(0.7) or whatever which is ~360k.

860k+360k ~ 1.22m DS

Oh wow, a lot of over tracking. Especially on PS3.

CW only sold 89,000 so it's not #11

Stop trolling Sony!

And according to Silicon Alley Insider, GTA:CW sold less than 90k.  Don't know how credible it is just yet, but we'll see.

I suspect it will be a popular title with the DSi launch, but it is going to have trouble getting to more than 600,000 worldwide with that kind of debut regardless.

The interesting thing to all of this is that despite the low numbers, I believe this is still a much higher figure than the GTAs reached lifetime on GBA. Hard to know how much Take 2 spent on the game, but since its for DS, if it can top 500,000 they might actually have an incentive to sequel it.