Microsoft exec agrees with estimate of 300,000 Xbox 360s for launch

Analysts' allocation predictions "not far removed from reality", says Lewis

Microsoft executive Chris Lewis has suggested that analysts' estimates of a launch day allocation of 300,000 Xbox 360 units for European territories are in the right ball park.

Speaking to German weekly Euro am Sonntag, Lewis said that the estimates "were not far removed from reality." He added that there was a possibility the Xbox 360 would sell out at launch in Europe, just as it in the US since the console launched there on November 22.

In the States, Xbox 360 "premium bundles" - which come with a hard drive included - are already selling for upwards of USD 900 on eBay, despite the fact that the machine carries an RRP of USD 399.

In an interview with GameSpot recently, Xbox executive Peter Moore predicted sales of between 2.5 million and 3 million Xbox 360 units worldwide in the three months following launch - and forecast that the figure would stand at 10 million by the end of 2006.

The Xbox 360 will launch in Europe on Friday December 2, priced at GBP 209 for the "core" system or GBP 279 for the hard drive-bundled machine.