Microsoft responds to Xbox's 54% failure rate
We're working on it, hints M'soft
Microsoft has admitted that it is “constantly improving” the Xbox 360, following the recent publication of a gamer-based survey that found the console to have a 54.3 per cent failure rate.
Instead of refuting the survey’s findings – derived from a survey of 5000 Game Informer magazine readers, Microsoft told TG Daily that it is constantly improving the console’s “design, manufacture and performance” through “extensive testing of potential sources of any problems”.
Just over 40 per cent of Xbox 360-owning readers play their machines for between three and five hours per day, the survey found. Conversely, 37 per cent of PS3 and 41.4 per cent of Wii owners said the same.
The survey also discovered that 10.6 per cent of PS3 consoles fail, while 6.8 per cent of Wiis are prone to hardware problems.
All three consoles have very different sales figures though, it’s worth noting. Globally the Wii has sold roughly 52m units, while the Xbox 360 has totted up about 30m and PS3 around 24.6m units.
It’s no secret that Microsoft has endured many problems at the hands of the dreaded Red Ring of Death – an issue said to have cost the company as estimated $1bn (£606m/€699m) so far.
However, the company signed off by claiming that “the vast majority of Xbox 360 customers” have a “terrific” Xbox 360 experience “day in and day out”. ®
COMMENTS
The sound of silence?
My Elite recently failed. Repeated lockup, then a few days later RRoD. Had a replacement delivered within a few days free from MS. They'd replaced the motherboard apparently; the case was the original (I’d made a distinctive little scratch on the back just to check!) so it wasn’t a simple console swap.
I don’t really like the PS controller size any longer now I’ve become used to the chunkier Xbox one. Also there are a few specific game series I like on the Xbox (Fable, Halo and Gears of War).
Otherwise I’ve no particular loyalty. It’s a shame my 360 had a RRoD; hope it won’t with the new M/B. I do like the 360 experience generally however it is noisy. Give me the option of a silent console and I’ll replace my 360. Anyone know if the SlimPS3 is silent?
Get your facts straight
AC - your numbers are all off - Ms didn't report global sales figures of 12million until September 2007 - nearly 1 year after the PS3 was released (6 months in Europe). Sales figures are also currently at approx 24 million for PS3 and 32Million for 360. So MS have actually, at worst, maintained their lead, and going by the latest annual sales figures, they have actually sold more consoles globally than the PS3, so theoretically they are increasing the lead, although with the release of the PS3 slim that should finally change. Sony also doesn't report sales to consumers, it reports sales to retail, which is the same as MS's shipping figures. And I seriously doubt there are that many people who would rather throw their console away than get it repaired for free.
Furthermore, Games sales are almost always in 360's favour, by a considerable margin, including GTA 4, which has sold 7 million for the 360 and 5 million for the PS3. Which reflects a larger gamer install base for the 360 than the PS3.
And sure, the 360 elite is now the same price as the PS3 slim, but the arcade is still significantly cheaper.
Watchdog
Xbox 360 was on Watchdog earlier this year/late last year - in relation to disk scratching rather than RROD.
no excuses, this was bound to come out
Its taken awhile but this information proves that the xbox is the worst console in this generation of consoles. Microsoft released this way to early, even a 6 month delay in release wouldnt of fixed their problems as 4 years later the RROD is still causing users to get replacements.
These figures show that nearly 16,000,000 360's have broken since its release, I wonder how many have been replaced by microsoft? 7,000,000? 12,000,000? Alot of people wouldnt of known about the replacement system so would of gone out and bought another (also increasing 360 figures).
How much money have microsoft stole from live subscribers in downtime due to their machine problems?
This really is a mess - how can people STILL defend it. Mocking PS3 users?... for what, having a better system that works and is cheaper in the long run?
Guess the truth hurts. This console war has been fun, Microsoft fooling its users, and watching the fools step up, it really has been fun reading all their comments. I cant help but feeling alittle sorry for them.... NOT!
No recall ...
Why haven't the consumer protection agencies in the UK and Europe been stronger in getting the 360 recalled due to design defects? Has it even featured on Watchdog? If the users won't stand up for their right to not get shoddy goods, then someone has to. It would send a message to Microsoft to not release broken hardware early into the market.
Of course the repair / replacement program is quite reasonable for Microsoft, although it's still stingy under EU warranty law. If your >3 year old 360 has RRODed I would still get Microsoft to fix it, as it is a design defect that shouldn't have a limited warranty (even if that was extended from one year). These breakages are time consuming and distressing for consumers, and many people have had it happen repeatedly.
