Microsoft reports it sold more than one million Xbox One units in the first 24 hours of its weekend launch.
Though exact numbers have not been determined, Microsoft successfully kept up with Sony, despite selling the higher-priced system at $499.99. Sony reported similar numbers after the launch of its PlayStation 4, which sells for $399.99, one week ago.
Microsoft said sales numbers exceeded the highly successful Xbox 360 launch, and that the majority of retailers are sold out as of Monday.
According to a blog post on the Xbox website, more than 60 million zombies have been killed, 3.6 million miles driven, 7.1 million combos performed, and 8.5 million enemies defeated in the first 24 hours of gameplay.
“Seeing thousands of excited fans lined up to get their Xbox One and their love for gaming was truly a special moment for everyone on the Xbox team,” Xbox Corporate Vice President of Marketing and Strategy Yusuf Mehdi said. “We are working hard to create more Xbox One consoles and look forward to fulfilling holiday gift wishes this season.”
The company also released a statement the same day addressing reports of consoles sold as defective or damaged right out of the box.
“The issue is affecting a very small number of Xbox One customers,” the statement said. “We’re working directly with those affected to get a replacement console to them as soon as possible through our advance exchange program. Rest assured, we are taking care of our customers.”
Microsoft suffered several years of significant profit loss and bad press over the life of the Xbox 360 because of a frequently occurring hardware problem that became widely known as “the red ring of death,” which rendered the system useless. Even still, it did not prevent the company from securing the most popular and successful console of the last generation.
The company states the initial Xbox One hardware problems are not widespread, and that a small percentage of defective units is normal for any major product release. Sony has experienced similar hardware failures with the PlayStation 4, but also reports those numbers within the acceptable range of a new product release.