Xbox 360 topples PS3 across Europe

Microsoft has boasted higher sales of Xbox 360s than PlayStation 3s across every region in Europe, including Sony-loyal territories such as Spain, France and Italy.

The company reported the best November ever for the Xbox division in Europe, following the September price cuts, and saw sales rise a staggering 124 per cent on this time last year. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Wii managed a 43 per cent climb, while PlayStation 3 sales increased just 3 per cent, according to Microsoft.

"November was a very significant milestone for Xbox - we sold the most consoles ever in our history in Europe, and are outselling PlayStation 3 week-on-week across Europe," cheered Chris Lewis, Euro Xbox 360 boss.

"In the current economic conditions, consumers are more cautious than ever and looking for more value for their entertainment spend.

"Xbox 360 delivers that value - we're now the best-value next-gen console on the market and this positive momentum indicates Xbox 360 is offering the right blend of gaming and entertainment experiences at the right price," he said.

There are none of the mentioned GfK Chart-Track figures to back this up, because Europe is quite precious about this information for some reason. It's worth noting that the Wii probably still tops the sales pops, mind you.

Lewis also said Microsoft was working with retailers to ensure a steady supply of consoles for Santa Claus this Christmas.

Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from Screen Digest thinks this Christmas will be the biggest ever for videogames by a "substantial margin", too, economic climate and all.