Sony PS4 console sales top 5 mn worldwide

Sony on Monday appeared to be winning the latest battle in a long-running videogame console war.

The Japanese consumer electronics and entertainment titan announced that it has sold more than 5.4 million PlayStation 4 (PS4) consoles since the new-generation gaming system debuted in November of last year.

"I am thrilled that so many customers around the globe have continued to select PS4 as the best place to play throughout and beyond the holiday season," Sony Computer Entertainment group chief Andrew House said in a release.

"The PS4 system's momentum just keeps growing stronger."

The PS4 is set for release in Japan on February 22, with sales on its home turf expected to widen the lead over Xbox One. Microsoft said it sold a million Xbox One consoles in the day after its release and that figure reportedly tripled by the start of this year.

Microsoft has not released its latest Xbox One sales figures.

Sony boasted that videogame industry sales data reported last week by NPD Group showed PS4 is far outselling Microsoft's Xbox One consoles in the coveted US market.

US videogame hardware sales surged in January, with PS4 consoles leading the charge, according to NPD figures.

People spent $241 million on videogame hardware, predominately consoles, in January compared to $205 million in the same month a year earlier, when a fifth "leap week" gave figures a particular boost, according to industry tracker NPD Group.

PS4 sales were nearly double that of Xbox One in the month, Sony said citing the NPD report.

Membership in the PlayStation Plus subscription service for games, films, and other digital entertainment has nearly doubled since the PS4 launched, according to Sony.

PS4 and Xbox One, also released in November, are fighting to be at the heart of digital home entertainment as consoles are under intense pressure to prove their worth as people increasingly turn to smartphones or tablets for games, video and other entertaining diversions.

© 2014 AFP