Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S consoles experienced a significant surge in sales following the launch of Starfield, resulting in the best week of 2023 for Xbox console sales. According to GfK data, sales of the two current-gen Xbox consoles increased by 76% week-on-week for the week ending Sept. 2.
This boost can be attributed to the early access availability of Starfield from Sept. 1 for those who purchased the Premium Edition, with the standard Xbox Series X console seeing a 46% sales increase for the same week. The release of a new Xbox Series S model also contributed to the sales surge.
Despite a slow year with Xbox hardware sales down 23% until the end of August, the release of Starfield and the new Xbox Series S version have provided a much-needed boost for Microsoft and Xbox. The Xbox Series S 1TB edition accounted for 24% of sales in the week ending Sept. 2, offering increased memory capacity, which is particularly beneficial for games like Starfield that require over 100GB of storage.
The acquisition of Bethesda and the console exclusivity of Starfield raised questions about its worth and potential impact on Xbox. However, the sales data suggests that the purchase has indeed attracted more players to the Xbox platform.
This sales surge comes as a relief for Xbox, which has faced disappointment with previous exclusive releases. Players are hopeful that this marks the beginning of a new era for Microsoft and Xbox.
| Week Ending | Xbox Series X Sales Increase | Xbox Series S Sales Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 2 | 76% | 24% |
Source: DOTESPORTS
