Microsoft moves 600,000 fewer consoles during latest quarter due to "soft console market"; Xbox Live membership rises 15 percent; revenue for Xbox division climbs 20 percent to $1.78 billion.

Microsoft's latest financial report reveals Xbox 360 shipments for the three-month period ended June 30 hit 1.1 million, down 600,000 from the 1.7 million units the company moved during the same period a year ago. Microsoft attributed this downturn to the "soft console market," which has already been well-documented by the long-running string of flagging monthly NPD reports.

Xbox 360 shipments are down, but Xbox Live subscriptions are rising.

Despite the lag in shipments, Microsoft said the Xbox 360 has been the top-selling console in the United States for 18 consecutive months. Additionally, the company said Xbox Live subscriptions for the period rose 15 percent over a year ago prior, following the launch of "differentiated gaming and entertainment opportunities." Specific subscription figures were not provided, but Microsoft previously said Xbox Live boasted 40 million members.

As for specific figures, Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division (of which the Xbox gaming sector resides) saw revenue grow 20 percent for the quarter to $1.78 billion, and 8 percent for the full year (also ended June 30) to $9.59 billion. Microsoft said the uptick for both periods was mostly tied to the company's acquisition of Skype last May.

As for Microsoft at large, the company hauled $18.06 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 4 percent over last year's take of $17.37 billion. For the full year, the Seattle technology giant took in $73.72 billion, a rise of 5 percent over the prior year's revenue of $69.94 billion.

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