In news that will really matter to people who believe owning a console that sells more units than another console is very important, a recent report from data firm Strategy Analytics says the PlayStation 3 has claimed a 500 000 unit lead over the Xbox 360, pushing Microsoft’s console into third place in the current generation.

According to the report, the PS3 is now holding an install base of 43.4 million, ahead of the Xbox’s 42.9 million. The Wii is, of course, on top of the heap with 75.5 million sold.

Although the Xbox still leads the PS3 Stateside, Strategy Analytics says the former’s weaker sales in Europe and elsewhere “acts as a drag on its global performance”.
“While the Kinect peripheral has given a boost to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 strategy, the console’s performance outside of the U.S. continues to disappoint,” says analyst Jia Wu. “Global demand for Sony’s PS3 has exceeded that of the Xbox 360 in each of the past two years, and we expect that to continue over the coming years.”