Microsoft's Xbox One is now out-selling the PS4

Microsoft say they are close to shifting 10 million consoles - and they can count on the Halo effect of upcoming blockbuster titles to speed them to this target

Microsoft’s aggressive pricing strategy for the Xbox One seems to be paying off: the company now says it’s outselling Sony’s rival PlayStation 4 in the US.

The company has been slashing prices, offering the Xbox One without the motion sensor Kinect peripheral and releasing an array of bundles for prices as low as $329 (£210).

“Sales have skyrocketed since the new price took effect on Nov. 2,” wrote Xbox vice president Yusuf Mehdi. “Compared to the previous week, Xbox One sales in the US have more than tripled.”

Mehdi added: “As we head into the busy holiday season Xbox One led generation 8 console sales in the US for the past two weeks,” indicating that the console was out-selling the PS4.

This is good news for Microsoft, but Sony still has a hell of a lead when it comes to sales. The Xbox One is “shortly” approaching the 10 million sold mark, says Mehdi, but the PS4 hit this target in August.

However, it’s not a zero-sum game, and industry experts and gamers alike should be heartened that consoles continue to prosper and sell in their millions.

The Xbox One and PS4 are likely to be under peoples’ TVs for years to come, but before their launch there was speculation that they would be the last generation of dedicating gaming machines.

The future looks good for the Xbox One too, with the recent release of Halo: The Master Chief Collection- a re-mastered bundle of four Halo titles that have been well received by critics and that look set to encourage some Xbox 360 owners (and Xbox first timers) to make the jump to the new console.

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