Microsoft claims short supply of Xbox 360s in US

Jeff Bell, who heads global marketing at Microsoft’s gaming business, updated Reuters about the Xbox 360 shortage in the U.S during an interview and blamed it on the company’s failure to foresee the sudden increase in demand. Until now it was Nintendo that was finding it difficult to meet demand for its current gen console.

Bell told Reuters, “We are really running short of product here in the United States,” and the Xbox 360 is out of stock in many stores. He expects the shortage to adversely affect Xbox 360 sales prospects and spoil the sales figure of the entire industry. Bell feels the shortage will continue in February 2008 and not subside until spring 2008. Bell also intimated that this shortage has raised retailers’ ire.

A lot is being read in to the timing of the shortage claims, which came just before NPD revealed the sales numbers for January 2008. Bell’s announcement regarding the shortage might be a preemptory excuse for the Xbox 360’s poor showing in January 2008, as the Xbox 360 finished third behind its rival consoles the Wii and the PS3. The signs are not good for the Xbox 360 with NPD’s sales figures for January 2008 showing the PS3 and Wii had close sales numbers and the Xbox 360 didn’t challenge them a wee bit.

Read [Engadget]