Sony Wins a Console Battle Against Microsoft

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Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. President and CEO Andrew House, left, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan President Hiroshi Kawano, right, and first customer of PlayStation 4 , center, pose for photo during launch event in Tokyo, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014.

Image: Koji Sasahara/Associated Press

By Todd Wasserman2014-04-18 13:30:38 UTC

Sony won the 2013 battle against Microsoft over competing console upgrades, posting 7 million PlayStation 4 sales versus 5 million Xbox One sales.

The two consoles went head-to-head in November, when the PS4 and Xbox One were released a week apart. The figures are based on slightly different methodologies. Sony, which announced sales of 6 million units in March, counts sales to consumers. Microsoft's figures are based on sales to retailers. Microsoft reported Xbox One sales of 3.9 million for the quarter that ended Dec. 31.

See also: The Comparative Anatomy of the Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4

Though Microsoft lags behind its rival in the newly reported sales, the company spun it as a big improvement over its last Xbox release. In a statement, Yusuf Mehdi, head of the Xbox division's marketing, strategy and business, said Xbox One sales outpaced sales of Xbox 360 by 60% for the comparable period.

The companies didn't release revenues for the console sales. The Xbox One has a suggested retail price of $499, compared to $399 for the PlayStation 4.

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Topics: Business, Gaming, Marketing, Microsoft, PlayStation 4, sony, xbox one