The PlayStation 3 is getting closer to overtaking lifetime sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360 . Sony's latest financial results reveal that lifetime, worldwide sales of the PS3 totalled 55.5 million units at the end of its financial quarter on September 30. Last month, Microsoft confirmed that lifetime sales of the Xbox 360 stood at 57.6 million units, with hardware shipments declining year on year.
During the quarter, Sony sold 3.7 million PS3s, an increase of 200,000 units - or 5.7 per cent - year on year. Software sales rose by a similar proportion, climbing 5.9 per cent to 37.4 million units.
Despite the improved sales, Sony's Consumer Products And Services division - which includes its PlayStation business as well as PC, mobile, camera, and TV and video - was hit with a quarterly loss of ¥34.6 billion (£277.6 million).