According to VGChartz Sony's PlayStation 3 has overtaken Microsoft's Xbox 360 in lifetime global sales mere months before the launch of the next generation consoles from the companies; the PS4 and Xbox One.
VGChartz currently places the PS3 at 77,313,472 while the Xbox 360 sits at 77,311,669. According to Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi they expect to sell 100 million Xbox 360s in total, an increase of 22.7 million units. Based on current sales' projections Sony will also sell 100 million PS3s by around 2016.
The Wii has already reached that milestone.
According to Mehdi Microsoft anticipates a 30% increase for next-generation consoles over the current systems will 400 million Xbox One, PS4 and Wii U systems sold. He even went so far as to claim that the entertainment capabilities of the Xbox One and PS4 could see one billion next generation consoles sold.
Despite the success of the PS3 globally, it has consistently lagged behind the Xbox 360 in both North America and the UK; however, sales of the console in Europe, Australia and other regions have helped Sony catch up. The PS3 typically tops the home console hardware chart in Japan where the Xbox 360 sold just 350 units last week.
When the PlayStation 3 initially launched there were concerns over the viability of the platform given its high price point at the time. Now that Sony are on course to overtake Microsoft for the current generation it would appear that their decisions have ultimately paid off.
The PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One are set to be released later this year.
