A statement from the firm said the Xbox 360 has a lead of more than 1 million units over rival PlayStation 3 in the region.
According to Microsoft, Christmas 2008 sales of Xbox 360 almost doubled over the previous year, thanks in no small part to a September price cut. The company said this most recent Christmas holiday was "the biggest sales period ever in the [Xbox] brand’s six-year European history."
Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business regional VP Chris Lewis said Microsoft is "poised to build on this success in 2009."
Analyst Nick Gibson with Games Investor Counsulting added, "According to GFK Chart Track data, the Xbox 360 recorded in excess of 100 percent growth in December sales compared to 2007 across the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, well ahead of any other console. It also recorded comfortably the highest rate of year-on-year growth for the final quarter of 2008 overall.”
Parker Consulting analyst said early returns for December sales data indicate "a significant sales increase year on year."
In Europe, Microsoft's console previously hit 6 million units in September and 7 million in November.