02/15/2008, 2:10pm, EST

Friday, February 15th

PS3 outsells Xbox 360 for first time, Blu-ray cited

Sony's PlayStation 3 successfully edged out the Xbox 360 in sales for the first time in January, new research data from The NPD Group says. The console sold an estimate 269,000 systems during the first month of the year, significantly outpacing Microsoft's Xbox 360 at 230,000 and just narrowly missing the Nintendo Wii's 274,000 mark. Sony credits the jump in part to the PS3's built-in Blu-ray drive, which gave the console an added edge after news of Warner Bros. dropping HD DVD triggered a spike in sales of Blu-ray players and movies.

Microsoft rejects the notion that the shift represents a changing of the guard and calls the swapped rankings an "anomaly" that will not hold when Xbox 360 supplies return to normal. The console suffered from chronic shortages last month as Microsoft underestimated post-holiday demand. The Redmond, Washington-based company also notes that buyers spent more on the Xbox 360 system and its accessories on average than for its Nintendo and Sony opponents.

Filed under: gaming, gadgets
Other story tags: Microsoft, sony, blu-ray, PS3, Xbox 360, Warner, Nintendo, Wii

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blahblahbloo

North America only

02/15, 2:32pm, EST

It's worth noting that this is the first time PS3 has outsold Xbox 360 in *North America*. That has happened plenty of times before in the other major territories. It seems that Xbox 360 fanboy-ism is much stronger in NA than elsewhere.

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined Jul 2006

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MacnTX

Xbox Sucks

02/15, 3:01pm, EST

The Japanese on the other hand have never supported either the original Xbox or the 360. And Microsoft's lame excuse about supply is just pathetic. How about if they would actually sell an Xbox that doesn't get the Red Ring of Death first. That might get buyers back on board...

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Joined Apr 2004

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danviento

small Surprise

02/15, 3:31pm, EST

that X-Box sales numbers reflect sales to retailers that are often inflated to begin with, whereas you'll usually see PS sales on the by-consumer basis.

MS has been loosing money and inflating sales numbers on 360 for years. The fact that even their skewed numbers aren't giving them the lead anymore is a stronger symptom of the disease. Can you guess what that disease is?

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined Dec 2005

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UberFu

one down...

02/15, 4:19pm, EST

and the Wii will fall to 2nd place as well - soon enough_

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Joined Oct 2002

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Robb

so lonely!

02/15, 7:08pm, EST

The inflated numbers claims are spot on. When I sign in to Xbox Live to play Halo 3, there are sometimes only seven of us and we have to call someone just so we can get even teams! It's sad.

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined Feb 2000

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Guest

yes it do!

02/20, 9:11am, EST

ru1 ru!ru!