Xbox Kinect Sales Top 10 Million

Microsoft said it has sold more than 10 million Kinect sensor units since launching the hands-free control system for the Xbox 360 gaming platform last November, making it one of the hottest-selling gadgets in tech industry history.

"Not only were sensor sales an overwhelming success, but Kinect drove significant game sales with more than 10 million standalone Kinect games sold worldwide to date," the company said in a statement.

Kinect sales averaged 133,333 units per day during its first 60 days on the market after Nov. 4. That pace led Guinness World Records to name Kinect the fastest-selling consumer electronics device of all time.

"The sales figures speak for themselves," said Gaz Deaves, Guiness' gaming editor. "No other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span, which is an incredible achievement considering the strength of the sector."

Kinect's performance is providing a much needed boost for Microsoft at a time when the company's efforts in other key new sectors like smartphones and tablets have underwhelmed. Microsoft is hoping to use Kinect's success in gaming as a springboard for new motion-controlled applications for disciplines such as healthcare, engineering, and biomechanics.

With that in mind, Microsoft last month said it plans to release software that will allow developers to create a wide range of applications for Kinect. The Kinect SDK will launch this spring as a free download from Microsoft's Web site.

"The community that has blossomed since the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360 in November shows the breadth of invention and depth of imagination possible when people have access to groundbreaking technology" said Microsoft's Steve Clayton.

"Already, researchers, academics and enthusiasts are thinking through what's next in natural and intuitive technology," said Clayton. He noted that students at the University of Washington's Biorobotics Lab are already using Kinect for research into robotic surgery. "Natural and intuitive technologies such as Kinect can be more than just a great platform for gaming and entertainment."

The Kinect SDK is undergoing development by the company's Interactive Entertainment Business unit in collaboration with Microsoft Research.