The latest statistics from Microsoft show that December 2008 was a good period for the publisher. The Xbox 360 broke records and recorded its best European Christmas in its history, with sales of the Xbox 360 almost doubling those of Christmas 2007.

The good sales bring to eight million the total number of Xbox 360 consoles sold across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. According to Microsoft the Xbox 360 has now “widened its lead over the PS3 in the region to more than one million.”

Data from tracking firms GfK and Chart Track shows that the Xbox 360 was the “fastest-growing console of 2008, with sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 over double that of the same period in 2007.” Microsoft attributes this success to “a mix of value, great games and entertainment” as well as the New Xbox Experience.

Chris Lewis, Regional Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business EMEA, had this to say, “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.”

Microsoft also included the views of two analysts for good measure. Their thoughts after the jump.

Nick Gibson, Founding Analyst, Games Investor Consulting, said “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, Parker Consulting, said “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.”