Matt Martin 16:20 (BST)
05/01/2009

Microsoft has boasted that the Xbox brand has enjoyed its best ever Christmas sales in Europe, with total lifetime-to-date sales in the region reaching eight million units.

Sales of Xbox 360 hardware almost doubled those of the previous festive period according to Microsoft, with the company claiming it leads over Sony's PlayStation 3 in the region by more than one million units.

"2008 saw us grow faster than any of our competitors and we over-achieved in sales during the crucial Christmas selling period," offered Chris Lewis, regional VP of Microsoft's Xbox business in Europe.

"With eight million consoles sold since we launched, and consistently out-selling PlayStation 3 in EMEA, we're poised to build on this success in 2009. 

"This success was only possible through our partnerships with retail and with publishers, with whom we’ve worked closely to build a strong ecosystem in the region and to bring value to our shared customer base."

According to GfK Chart-Track data, Xbox 360 was the fastest-growing console in 2008, with sales in the last three months of the year over double the same period in 2007 in the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain.

"As we move into 2009 and an uncertain economic climate, we continue to be committed to offering the right blend of gaming and entertainment experiences at the right price," committed Lewis.