Analysts estimate Xbox 360 launch week sales of 400,000 in the US

"Stock shortages significantly hamper potential sales

More than 400,000 Xbox 360s have been sold in the US since the console launched there just one week ago, according to American Technology Research analyst P.J. McNealy.

Numerous US retailers had ceased taking pre-orders for the console weeks, or even months before the November 22nd launch, and massive queues formed outside major stores in preparation for the midnight release. Thousands of customers were forced to leave empty handed as stock rapidly depleted nationwide, though Microsoft has promised the retail channel a weekly re-supply in the run up to Christmas.

According to McNealy, the widely publicised stock shortages - a consequence of an ambitious tri-continent launch strategy - have seriously hampered the potential first week sales. McNealy estimates that Microsoft could have sold up to three times as much if the stock was readily available at retail.

"I think they would have been happy to have sold another million if they could have. They just didn't have them," he said." [more]