Analysts had predicted at the beginning of the 2016 holiday season that Sony's PlayStation 4 would triumph over Microsoft's Xbox One in terms of sales figures.
Based on the data shared by market research firm The NPD Group and confirmed by Sony officials, it seems that the analysts had made an accurate forecast.
Sony had a successful yearend with the PS4 gaming console becoming the best-selling home gaming system in the United States.
Sony Beats Microsoft In Console Wars
Sony has stated in a press release that the PS4 enjoyed a worldwide sale of 50 million units in December 2016 and that the company had the best Black Friday sale ever.
According to Sony, the PS4 outsold Microsoft's Xbox One sales in the United States in December 2016 with lifetime sales of over 53.4 million units.
Sony did not comment on the sales of the home console but it did confirm NPD's data to publication Gamesbeat.
Microsoft highlighted the arch rivalry between the two corporations by commenting that PS4 sales slid year-over-year. Microsoft also stated that if the cumulative sales figures of the second half of 2016 are considered, then the Xbox One outperformed Sony's system.
According to Gamesbeat, Microsoft also went on to say that December 2016 was likewise the best month for Xbox One sales in the United States, especially after the announcement of Xbox One S at E3.
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro Boosts Sales
Sony got a boost in its sales figures in December after the release of the PS4 Pro in the United States. The PS4 Pro, which launched in November 2016, has 4K capabilities upgrade.
Also, the fact that a handful of major games were launched exclusively for PS4 helped Sony's system get the necessary flip to outrun Microsoft in the sales race.
Given that November and December are two of the most crucial months for the tech market, which mark the start of the holiday season, an increase in sales figures during these two months can act as a game changer for any tech company.
Sony And Microsoft Continue To Lock Horns
Microsoft doesn't seem much perturbed with the fact that the PS4 outsold Xbox One in the month of December 2016. It plans to launch the Xbox Scorpio in 2017, which is an upgrade but with more power under its hood.
Sony has not given an official statement so far about its plans for 2017, but PlayStation users can expect new updates or launches in 2017 for the PS4 Pro.
Nintendo Switch To Make Its Debut
Meanwhile, Nintendo Switch, which is due to release on March 3, 2017, is expected to give tough competition to PlayStation and Xbox sales. People are awaiting the release of the new home console with bated breath as it comes with a set of edge controller called "Joy-Cons" and USB Type-C charging port.
