Following a quiet holiday season, Microsoft has released its sales data from Christmas 2008 today.  It reveals that Xbox 360 sales doubled this holiday in Europe, and a total of 8 million consoles were sold in the EMEA region up until the end of last year.  This increases the 360's lead over Sony's PlayStation 3 by on million.

Regional VP Chris Lewis of Interactive Entertainment Business EMEA relayed the company's excitement over the console's holiday success:

“Christmas 2008 was a resounding success for Xbox 360. 2008 saw us grow faster than any of our competitors and we over-achieved in sales during the crucial Christmas selling period. We reduced the entry-level Xbox 360 ERP in September, understanding the need for great value, and European consumers have responded enthusiastically. With eight million consoles sold since we launched, and consistently out-selling PlayStation 3 in EMEA, we’re poised to build on this success in 2009. This success was only possible through our partnerships with retail and with publishers, with whom we’ve worked closely to build a strong ecosystem in the region and to bring value to our shared customer base. As we move into 2009 and an uncertain economic climate, we continue to be committed to offering the right blend of gaming and entertainment experiences at the right price.”

Data from GfK ChartTrack shows that Microsoft's HD platform was "the fastest-growing" console of 2008.  Founding analyst of Games Investor Consulting stated:

“Microsoft appears to have enjoyed an excellent end to 2008 in Europe. According to GFK Chart Track data, the Xbox 360 recorded in excess of 100% 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.”

Nick Parker, founder and games analyst at Parker Consulting, added:

“I have seen early returns for the December 2008 sales data indicating that Xbox 360 has shown a significant sales increase year on year and furthermore is ahead of its nearest rival in terms of lifetime consumer hardware sales in the EMEA region, with an installed base of over eight million units.”