To celebrate the Xbox 360’s 20th anniversary on November 22, 2025, market research firm Circana released detailed sales data showing Microsoft’s second console sold 42.7 million units in the United States during its lifetime. The data reveals Call of Duty: Black Ops II as the console’s best-selling game in both units and revenue, cementing the franchise’s incredible dominance throughout the seventh generation. The statistics also show that seven of the top 20 best-selling games were Call of Duty titles, with the franchise occupying six of the top 10 spots and four of the top five positions.
Call of Duty’s Total Domination
The numbers paint a clear picture of how Call of Duty became synonymous with Xbox 360 gaming. Black Ops II sits at number one for both units sold and revenue generated, followed by Modern Warfare 3 at number two and Modern Warfare 2 at number three. The original Modern Warfare comes in at fifth place, while Ghosts takes seventh, Black Ops lands at eighth, and World at War rounds out the franchise’s representation at thirteenth.
What makes this dominance even more striking is that the first two Xbox 360 Call of Duty games, Call of Duty 2 and Call of Duty 3, are the only franchise entries that failed to crack the top 20. This demonstrates how Modern Warfare completely transformed the series from a solid shooter into a cultural phenomenon that defined console gaming for nearly a decade. The shift from World War II settings to modern combat in 2007 fundamentally changed what players expected from first-person shooters.
The Complete Top 20 List
Beyond Call of Duty’s seven entries, the top 20 includes three Halo games, two Grand Theft Auto titles, and two Gears of War entries. Halo 3 ranks fourth overall, demonstrating the franchise’s continued strength as Xbox’s flagship exclusive. Halo Reach comes in at tenth place, while Halo 4 lands at twelfth. Grand Theft Auto V takes sixth place despite launching late in the console’s lifecycle, with GTA IV claiming ninth spot.
Gears of War appears twice with the original at nineteenth and Gears 3 at twentieth. Notably absent is Gears of War 2, which analysts speculate likely sits just outside the top 20 at position 21 or 22. The list also includes Rock Band at eleventh, showing the music game genre’s impact during the late 2000s, plus Red Dead Redemption at eighteenth, Battlefield 3 at seventeenth, and Guitar Hero 3 at sixteenth.
Minecraft rounds out the top 20 at fifteenth place, representing a different kind of success story. Unlike the AAA franchises dominating the rest of the list, Minecraft built massive audiences through word of mouth and grassroots community support. Its inclusion demonstrates how the Xbox 360 era bridged traditional retail gaming and the emerging indie and digital distribution revolution.
What the 42.7 Million Figure Means
The 42.7 million US sales figure represents a significant portion of the Xbox 360’s estimated 84 million worldwide lifetime sales. This means roughly half of all Xbox 360 consoles sold globally went to American customers, confirming the platform’s particularly strong performance in North America compared to other regions. Microsoft dominated the US market for 32 consecutive months during the console’s prime years.
These numbers place the Xbox 360 as the fourth best-selling console in US history according to Circana data, behind only the Nintendo DS at 53 million, Nintendo Switch at 47 million, and PlayStation 2 at 46.5 million. The Xbox 360 edges out the Wii at 41.7 million units, marking the only generation where an Xbox console outsold a Nintendo home console in the United States.
The Best-Selling Accessory
Circana also revealed that the standard Xbox 360 headset led all accessory SKUs with over 11.4 million units sold in the United States. This staggering number reflects how online multiplayer became central to the Xbox 360 experience, particularly for Call of Duty and Halo players who needed voice communication for competitive and cooperative gameplay. Including a basic headset with every console early in the generation helped establish voice chat as an expected feature.
The headset sales also demonstrate a key difference between Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. While Sony’s console offered similar online functionality through PlayStation Network, Microsoft made voice communication more accessible and standardized through pack-in headsets and Xbox Live’s infrastructure. This helped Xbox maintain its reputation as the premier destination for online console gaming throughout the generation.
How It Compared to PlayStation 3
Globally, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 ended the generation with remarkably similar lifetime sales around 84 to 87 million units each. However, regional breakdowns tell different stories. The Xbox 360 dominated North America and the United Kingdom, while PlayStation 3 performed significantly better in Europe, Japan, and other international markets. This explains why Call of Duty remained so closely associated with Xbox despite being multiplatform.
The PS3’s global comeback came after a disastrous launch at $599 with limited software. Sony gradually closed the gap through price cuts, the PS3 Slim redesign, and building an impressive exclusive lineup including Uncharted, The Last of Us, and God of War. By 2013, PlayStation 3 had overtaken Xbox 360 in worldwide sales, though the Xbox maintained its North American lead through the generation’s end.
The Call of Duty Marketing Deal
Microsoft’s partnership with Activision for Call of Duty marketing rights proved crucial to the Xbox 360’s success in North America. The deal gave Xbox exclusive access to map packs and DLC weeks before PlayStation versions, creating a genuine reason for hardcore Call of Duty fans to choose Xbox 360. Marketing campaigns prominently featured Xbox branding, and competitive Call of Duty esports used Xbox as the official platform.
Many analysts view Microsoft’s decision not to renew the Call of Duty marketing deal for the Xbox One generation as a critical mistake that contributed to that console’s struggles. Sony secured the partnership starting in 2015, two years after the new consoles launched. By that point, PlayStation 4 had already established a commanding lead, but the Call of Duty association helped maintain momentum throughout the entire generation.
Why These Numbers Matter Now
The Xbox 360 data provides context for understanding current console market dynamics. Microsoft’s dominance in North America during the seventh generation came from a year head start, aggressive pricing, superior online infrastructure, and securing key third-party partnerships like Call of Duty. When those advantages disappeared with the Xbox One’s botched launch, PlayStation quickly reclaimed market leadership.
The data also shows how important North America remains for Xbox. While Nintendo and PlayStation build global audiences, Xbox continues concentrating resources on its strongest markets. This strategy influences everything from Game Pass pricing to which games receive marketing pushes. Understanding the 360 era helps explain why Xbox Series X and S focus so heavily on services, backwards compatibility, and maintaining relationships with Western publishers.
The Red Ring of Death Impact
Any discussion of Xbox 360 sales must address the Red Ring of Death hardware failures that plagued early models. Microsoft never officially disclosed failure rates, but reports suggested over 50 percent of launch-era consoles experienced the issue. The company extended warranties to three years specifically for RROD problems, taking a financial hit estimated at over $1 billion.
Some have questioned whether the 42.7 million US sales figure includes replacement consoles purchased by frustrated owners whose systems died outside warranty periods. Circana collects data directly from retail point-of-sale systems, so warranty replacements shipped from Microsoft wouldn’t be counted. However, consumers who bought new consoles after experiencing RROD would be reflected in the numbers, potentially inflating the true installed base somewhat.
The Franchises That Defined a Generation
Looking at the top 20 reveals how concentrated Xbox 360 success was around specific franchises. Call of Duty accounts for seven entries, Halo for three, Grand Theft Auto for two, and Gears of War for two. That’s 14 out of 20 games from just four franchises, showing how dependent the platform became on a relatively small number of blockbuster series targeting similar demographics.
This concentration had long-term implications for Xbox’s brand identity. The Xbox 360 became known as the destination for shooters, mature action games, and competitive multiplayer experiences. While that reputation drove incredible success during the seventh generation, it also limited Xbox’s ability to compete with PlayStation and Nintendo’s broader genre diversity. Microsoft has spent the Xbox Series X and S generation trying to expand beyond that narrow identity through Game Pass and studio acquisitions.
FAQs
How many Xbox 360 consoles sold in the United States?
According to Circana data released for the console’s 20th anniversary, the Xbox 360 sold 42.7 million units in the United States during its lifetime. This represents roughly half of the console’s estimated 84 million worldwide sales.
What was the best-selling Xbox 360 game?
Call of Duty: Black Ops II was the best-selling Xbox 360 game in the United States in both units sold and revenue generated. Modern Warfare 3 and Modern Warfare 2 took second and third place respectively.
How many Call of Duty games are in the Xbox 360 top 20?
Seven Call of Duty titles made the top 20 best-selling Xbox 360 games list: Black Ops II, Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, the original Modern Warfare, Ghosts, Black Ops, and World at War. Six of these occupied the top 10 spots.
What was the best-selling Xbox 360 accessory?
The standard Xbox 360 headset led all accessory SKUs with over 11.4 million units sold in the United States, reflecting how central voice communication became to the online multiplayer experience.
Did Xbox 360 outsell PlayStation 3 in the US?
Yes, the Xbox 360 significantly outsold the PlayStation 3 in the United States and maintained dominance throughout the generation. However, PlayStation 3 eventually overtook Xbox 360 in worldwide lifetime sales by focusing on international markets.
When did the Xbox 360 launch?
The Xbox 360 launched in North America on November 22, 2005, making November 22, 2025 the console’s 20th anniversary. It released nearly a year before the PlayStation 3.
What other games made the Xbox 360 top 20?
Beyond Call of Duty, the top 20 includes Halo 3, Halo Reach, Halo 4, Grand Theft Auto V, GTA IV, Gears of War, Gears of War 3, Rock Band, Red Dead Redemption, Battlefield 3, Guitar Hero 3, and Minecraft.
Where does Xbox 360 rank among best-selling US consoles?
The Xbox 360 is the fourth best-selling console in US history according to Circana, behind Nintendo DS (53M), Nintendo Switch (47M), and PlayStation 2 (46.5M), but ahead of Wii (41.7M).
Conclusion
The Xbox 360’s 42.7 million US sales and Call of Duty-dominated software charts tell the story of a console that captured a specific moment in gaming history. Microsoft built incredible momentum through a year head start, superior online infrastructure, and securing exclusive relationships with the biggest franchises. While global sales eventually favored PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360’s North American dominance shaped industry expectations about online gaming, DLC, achievements, and digital distribution. Twenty years later, those innovations remain central to how we play games, making the Xbox 360 one of the most influential consoles ever released despite its infamous hardware problems.