Microsoft Europe is stating that it sold quite a lot of Xbox 360s in the fourth quarter of 2008. It says that it saw "sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 over double that of the same period in 2007". This brings the total install base in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Asia) to eight million units.

The EMEA, according to Microsoft, refers to: UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, South Africa, and UAE. So, let's have no mention of 'Europe' anywhere.

Aside from the eight million lifetime sales in EMEA, the word from Microsoft comes with much fanfare and pomp but no sales figures. As you'd expect, it also comes with a hard word for Sony. It states that the 360 is, "widening its lead over PlayStation 3 in the region to more than one million and setting the scene for further growth in 2009."

It goes on to say that, "2008 saw us grow faster than any of our competitors and we over-achieved in sales during the crucial Christmas selling period." Competitors? That's right. We can only assume this plural is referring to Nintendo and Sony. We're looking forward to both of those companies issuing equally upbeat statements forthwith.

That said, it comes as little surprise to see that the price-cut ('value-increased') sold well over Xmas. A cursory glance in local games shops certainly indicated that on price alone it was a better deal than PS3.