Sony unloads a million PlayStation 4 consoles in 24 hours. But what's next for the PS4?

Sony sold a million PlayStation 4 consoles in the first 24 hours the device was on sale. 

In a press release, Sony called the response "phenomenal," although it stopped short of saying what the weekend sales looked like as a whole. "Sales remain very strong in North America, and we expect continued enthusiasm as we launch the PlayStation 4 in Europe and Latin America on Nov. 29," Sony exec Andrew House said. "We are extremely grateful for the passion of PlayStation fans and thank them for their continued support." 

Monitor readers will remember that all the way back in August, a different Sony exec was telling the press that PS4 pre-orders had already passed a million – "way over" the amount of pre-orders for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. Later, Sony backed an estimate from analyst Colin Sebastian, who had predicted that Sony would unload at least 3 million PS4 consoles before the end of the year. 

The PS4, which debuted on Friday, has won strong marks from critics, although some reviewers have faulted the device for its less-than-stellar launch title line-up. 

We are at a "crucial moment in the great Sony relay race," Stephen Totilo of Kotaku recently wrote. "The PS3 is handing off the baton, and just as it happens, time seems to freeze. The next runner, the PS4, has taken the hand-off but hasn't quite landed its first stride. The PS3 will keep running for a time, coasting on its own momentum. The PS4 looks poised, ready charge forth. We assume it'll happen. But that hand-off is still in progress." 

Of course, the PS4 won't have the spotlight all to itself for much longer. On Friday, Microsoft will release its Xbox One console, which is priced at a full hundred bucks more than the PS4. So which console will triumph? Well, in a much-discussed report, analytics firm IHS says the win will eventually go to the PS4 – a device with a "much wider geographical brand allegiance."