Sony closed out 2013 pretty well compared to Microsoft, managing to sell more than one million PlayStation 4 units than the Xbox One, and it looks like the trend is set to continue in 2014. According to the market research group NPD (tweeted by Geoff Keighley), the PS4 outsold the Xbox One again in January, bringing total sales to almost double that of the Xbox One.
Spokesmans from both companies have commented on the sales numbers. Sony's Senior VP of Marketing, Guy Longworth, noted the accomplishment despite the console's supply shortage at numerous retailers:
"Demand for PlayStation 4 remains incredibly strong as it was No. 1 in sales for next gen consoles in January, nearly doubling the nearest next gen competitor, and remains the cumulative leader, according to today's NPD report. Although PS4 remains severely constrained at retail, we are working hard to refresh supply as quickly as possible. It's clear gamers are choosing PlayStation as the best place to play with PS4 software sales ranking No. 1 in January, highlighted by strong sales of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, which sold twice as many units on PS4 than any other platform."
Meanwhile, Microsoft's own marketing master Yusuf Mehdi did his best to put the Xbox One on a pedestal, taking to the Xbox Blog to talk about how much better sales are for the latest console compared to the Xbox 360.
"We are incredibly humbled and proud to see Xbox One continue to be the best launch of an Xbox in our history. Comparatively, Xbox One consoles have sold at a rate of 2.29 times faster than Xbox 360 in the U.S. in the same timeframe for the first three months on the market. From our blazing start out of the gate, we have continued to see Xbox One delight fans in 13 markets around the world, with many more markets to come this year."
And it's not just in system sales that Sony has the edge either. NPD also released the news that almost every EA title recently released has proven to sell more over the Xbox One: Battlefield 4, Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, etc.
While victory may seem assured for Sony, both companies have their own line-up of exclusives in the months to come, which could either help Sony stay on top, or give the boost Microsoft needs to close the gap.
