Microsoft has recently announced some interesting information concerning the demographics of those using the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live during a recent financial analysts meeting that was reported on by Gamespot. Microsoft COO Kevin Turner revealed how the user landscape for the service has changed, as well as how much time users spend on Xbox Live consuming media such as television and movies.
In the report, Turner revealed that almost 40 percent of the Xbox Live "audience" is female, which he stated was a "giant change" compared to the amount of female users the service had back when it was introduced. While it is unclear what the exact figures are for the female demographic are for today as well as the past, this is a huge piece of news.
Gaming, once thought of as a teenager boy domain, has gradually shifted to a more open club where both male and female users take part in the various advantages owning a video game console provides. However, it is strange that Turner would use the term "audience" to describe the Xbox Live user base, which may indicate that the company is focusing more on delivering a media centered experience rather than one that focuses on gaming.
Turner also discussed the overall numbers Xbox Live has, and he revealed that Xbox Live has 48 million users scattered around 41 countries around the world. He also revealed that 42 percent of users of Xbox Live users in the United States spent at least 30 hours watching digitally distributed movies and television on Xbox Live, showing that users have gravitated towards Xbox Live and services like Netflix and Hulu Plus to provide their entertainment. Furthermore, Turner revealed that in 2012, 18 billion hours of entertainment provided by the Xbox 360 were consumed globally.
The COO also spent some time discussing the Xbox One, which will launch on Nov. 22. Turner stated that he and Microsoft feel strongly that the console is in a strong position to be successful right out of the gate based on the various video game and entertainment merits the device will have:
"And we're excited about the upcoming Xbox One launch. We believe we've got an incredible offering with Xbox One as it relates to multiplayer experiences and services...we've wrapped a lot of entertainment with the product as well, and we believe we've got our strongest game lineup, and the external pundits say it as well, that we've ever had to be able to offer as a company." he said.
Look out for more news on Xbox Live and the Xbox One as Microsoft prepares for the launch of the next gen console.