PS3 vs. Xbox 360 sale figures: Sony at 70 million a month after Microsoft milestone

Written by Matt Swider on November 16, 2012

PS3 vs Xbox 360 Sales News: Xbox 360 reached the same number of consoles sold on September 30, 2012, making for a close console war at the end.

The PS3 vs. Xbox 360 sales figures couldn’t get any tighter at the very end of this generation’s console war, as Sony announced that PS3 sales have reached 70 million units - 35 days after Microsoft hit the same milestone with Xbox 360.

These worldwide numbers put Xbox 360 over PS3. But Microsoft can’t claim total victory because, as Sony points out in its press release, “PS3 reached a milestone of 70 million units ... less than six years after the platform launched in 2006.”

Microsoft had a one-year advantage, releasing Xbox 360 in 2005. Sony has been playing catch-up ever since, and is now closing in with just a 35-day lag.

Sony’s PS3 sales figures account for consoles sold from the launch until November 4, 2012. Additionally, the company’s PlayStation Move controller surpassed 15 million units sold as of November 11.

Xbox 720, PS4 to end the console war

Which company is in the lead when the next consoles come out is the big question. Xbox 720, aka Durango, is supposed to have a fall 2013, according to current estimates. PS4 is rumored to come out sometime after that date.

Sony hasn’t been talking or even hinting about the PS4.

Instead, PS3 sales figures press release touted its console’s new form factor, known to the gaming world as the Super Slim PS3. It’s reduced in volume and weight by 50 percent compared to the original PS3 launch model.

How much of that weight was saved by axing the PS2 backward compatibility will never be known (or forgiven by some gamers).