What week of news would be complete without someone from one of the Big Three not talking about how they're beating the pants off someone? At this rate, we may never find out, as Chris Lewis, interactive entertainment boss for Microsoft Europe, has proclaimed victory over rival Sony.

"We don't fixate on the competition, but it's a very important bellwether of our success. In the UK, we've sold more than double PS3's volume since the price drop in September.

"I would call out our success in the Mediterranean countries in the last few weeks as a genuine step change from where we've been. The investment we've made in the right campaigns, the right price point and content that truly appeals to those markets.

"In Italy, we were double PS3's sales last week. In France and Germany we are at or better than PS3 consistently now. We dominate in Russia and the Nordic countries and in Spain – a traditional Sony stronghold – we're now outselling PS3. It bodes incredibly well for our Christmas prospects." -- MCV

As to actual numbers, the firm boasted that they had topped the seven million mark in Europe, thanks to the price cut and blanket fourth-quarter marketing which helped turn certain "swing states," in which they had struggled, in their favor.