Microsoft’s Xbox One was the best-selling console in the US last month, outstripping fierce rival Sony and its PlayStation 4 (PS4) in the ongoing war for hardware supremecy.
Data released by market research firm NPD, as reported by PlayStationLifeStyle.net, also found that total new game software and hardware sales at US retailers rose 3pc from US$579.5m in April 2014 to US$595.7m in April 2015. Hardware alone, however, was down 4pc from US$191.9m to US$183.9m.
Despite this, Microsoft has said that Xbox One console sales in the US increased by 63pc in April 2015 compared to April 2014. “As the best-selling console in the US in April, fans set record April sales and engagement for Xbox One last month,” Xbox marketing boss Mike Nichols told Venturebeat in a statement.
“We are grateful to our fans for their passion and support and are looking forward to sharing more on the best game line-up in Xbox history at E3.”
In a statement also released to Venturebeat, Sony was bullish about the results: “We would like to thank fans around the world for their continued support of the PS4. According to NPD, PlayStation continues to lead software sales for April 2015 and PS4 remains the cumulative sales leader in the US. We are looking forward to an amazing E3.”
Sony and Microsoft have gone back-and-forth for the past few months in terms of US console sales. The Xbox One ended the PS4’s streak as the nation’s best-selling console by overtaking it in November and maintaning that lead over the vital Christmas period. Sony overtook its rival in January, February, and March of this year.
Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat X was the best selling game is the US for April.
Xbox image via Shutterstock
