The Xbox 360 has now sold over nine million consoles across Europe, Microsoft has revealed to MCV.

In an exclusive interview, EMEA VP Chris Lewis claimed that 360 was the only format to see positive sales growth during 2009 – as both Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s market-leader Wii saw hardware sales fall year-on-year.

“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.”

Microsoft last announced European sales figures for 360 in January, when the console had reached eight million.