Speaking to MCV, Microsoft EMEA VP Chris Lewis has revealed that the Xbox 360 has now sold over nine million units in Europe and is the only format to see positive growth in 2009.

“Our installed base is now well over nine million in Europe, where we enjoy about 27 per cent of the current share of the console market,” he told MCV.

“This calendar year, we’re the only console showing positive growth. That’s 22 per cent on the first half against a market that is down to a similar margin overall. So we are bucking that trend.”

It's been strongly rumoured that Microsoft is ready to retire the current 60GB Xbox 360 in favour of offering only the cheaper Arcade model and the 120GB Elite - the latter is expected to be discounted to bring its price in line with the 60GB model.