Xbox 360 did it: for the first time ever in the history of next-generation gaming consoles, Microsoft’s video game and entertainment system broke the 10 million mark of units sold in the U.S., which contribute to a total of 19 million units sold worldwide. Wii is not very far behind, lacking a little over one million to catch up with Xbox 360, while Sony’s PlayStation 3 sold 4.1 million units.

Looks like a good year ahead for Microsoft and Xbox: “This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad,” Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft said in a statement.

The explanation for that could be linked to the launch of “Grand Theft Auto IV” on April 29, 2008, which boosted the Xbox LIVE global membership to 12 million users this month, Microsoft unveiled. The Xbox LIVE service has doubled in membership over the past year.

Billy Pidgeon, research manager at IDC described the 12 million Xbox LIVE community as “the largest community in the connected console games sector, which represents the greatest growth opportunity in the console market and where Microsoft has been the leader for two generations.”

The future looks bright, as Mattrick highlighted: based on events in the past, the first company to reach the 10 million mark in console sales becomes the winner of that generation of consoles. “We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry.”

Xbox 360 has sold over 16 platinum titles that have sold through 1 million units or more, Microsoft unveiled, including “Grand Theft Auto IV,” “Halo 3,” “Madden NFL 08,” “Gears of War,” “Guitar Hero II” and “Guitar Hero III.”