Sony is confident that it will sell at least 3 million PlayStation 4 units by end-December this year.
The company is set to release the much-awaited PlayStation 4 gaming console this week and is positive that it can meet sales forecast by analysts of 3 million units by year end.
Earlier in September, at its Tokyo Game Show keynote, Sony announced that it estimates to sell 5 million PlayStation 4 consoles before the end of the fiscal year.
According to a Bloomberg report, Sony's Jack Tretton revealed in an interview that the company will have "adequate" supplies of the PS4 to take on the holiday season sales.
"Sony will have adequate supplies of the $399 PS4 through Christmas and stands by earlier projections for sales of 5 million units by March, Jack Tretton, president and chief executive officer of the company's U.S. computer entertainment division, said yesterday in an interview," reports Bloomberg.
Tretton is also "confident" of Sony meeting analysts' expectations.
"This is a marathon, not a sprint, but getting out to a nice start is a good thing," says Tretton. "That hurdle has been cleared. We're very, very confident we're in great shape."
Tretton's statement hints that Sony has taken a lesson from the past and will have ample inventory to avoid stock issues which slowed down early sales of the PS3 at launch in 2006.
Sony is ahead of Microsoft in the race of next-gen console launches and can capitalize on the early launch advantage over the Xbox One.
The PS4 hits U.S. shelves on Friday, Nov. 15, followed by a Europe launch on November 29. The console will make its way to 32 countries worldwide in time for the holidays. Microsoft, on the other hand, is set to release its Xbox One a week later in 13 countries.
Previously, Colin Sebastian, an analyst with Robert W. Baird & Co forecasted that both companies will sell 3 million units worldwide in 2013.
However, Tretton seems convinced and comfortable with meeting the estimates.
"We're very comfortable with it," notes Tretton. "I'm excited about next week to be able to talk about what was sold as opposed to what we may sell."
