Xbox 360 Doubles PS3 Sales Rate In Europe

Sales of Xbox 360 in the UK surged 214 percent in Europe over the last the two weeks, giving Microsoft's console a sales rate double that of Sony's PlayStation 3. Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business EMEA VP Chris Lewis pegged the surge on a new advertising campaign, the console's recent price cuts, and a perception of value among the current-gen lineup. "These figures prove it," he declared. Though the ChartTrack-sourced figures are specific to the UK, Lewis took them as evidence of momentum throughout the continent. "This data shows that the Xbox 360 trajectory continues upwards, and not just in the UK," he said, adding that the company has "seen uplift in all countries in Europe." If the upswing becomes a long-term trend, it will help Microsoft widen a lead that has stayed relatively constant. In the year-long period ending this August, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 each saw their install bases increase by about a million units -- though Microsoft's machine holds a lead of .9 million.