Despite production problems associated with the drive, reckon they succeeded in delivering one-million consoles to North America in 2006, a figure quickly gobbled-up by acute levels of demand for the new machine.

The announcement was made at the CES technology show in Las Vegas, though the company didn't mention whether the global target of 2 million systems in 2006 was met... it seems likely it wasn't, as it is hard to imagine another one-million PS3s having found their way into during the same period. The PS3 has been plagued for production since launch, which have also seen the PAL region debut pushed back to March (with abound that this could slip further).

The of course has a year or more over the PS3 in most regions, and reckon they sold nearly half a million console in the two weeks following their own November 19th launch stateside. It seems likely then that the PS3 remains firmly lodged in third place post-Christmas, a position Sony will no doubt be keen to improve given the market leader status they enjoy via the PS2.

More on this as we get it.

By Luke Guttridge