1.2 million PS3s sold in Europe over Christmas

Sony has sold a record number of PlayStation 3 consoles in Europe over the five weeks to the end of 2007, shifting 1.2 million units, the most in that time period - and in line with US sales, according to the president of the company's Games division, Kaz Hirai.

Talking to Bloomberg Television Hirai added that the company was continuing to ramp up support for its flagship console: "We want to promote games only available for PlayStation 3 - the introduction of the 40 gigabyte model is in line with that strategy.''

And although analysts generally agree that the company's original target of 11 million units shipped by the end of the financial year in March is somewhat optimistic - putting a more likely figure at 8 million - Hirai isn't concerned at this point.

"We haven't made any conclusion whether we have to give it up. It depends on how aggressively dealers buy our PS3 inventory.''

The Games division, a key earner for Sony Corporation in previous years under the earlier PlayStation models, has now made losses in the last seven consecutive quarters, although lower production costs and higher sales following the price drop should cut those losses significantly by the end of March.

In contrast Nintendo is expected to sell 19 million Wii consoles, and Microsoft 9.1 million Xbox 360s by the end of the financial year.