Biggest Xbox launch ever: Microsoft says it sold 1M Xbox Ones in less than 24 hours

Microsoft said it sold more than one million Xbox One consoles in less than 24 hours as it launched the next-gen video game system in 13 markets yesterday, including the U.S. That means that the launch was the biggest in Xbox history, surpassing day one sales for the prior Xbox 360 and original Xbox generations.

The launch is significant because it represents the chance for an economic revival for the entire console game industry. For Microsoft, the Xbox One is the first new game console in seven years, and it marks the beginning of a new Xbox One economy. Microsoft sold more than 80 million Xbox 360 systems and generated billions of dollars in sales for Microsoft — and billions more for third-party video game publishers, making video games one of the most important and lucrative industries in the world.