PS4 sells 4.2 million units in 2013

Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation 4 shifted 4.2 million units around the world as of 28 December 2013.

The console first went on sale on 15 November before being rolled out to other territories.

It can now be purchased in 53 different countries and demand has been very high.

"The momentum of the PS4 system keeps getting stronger and we couldn't be more thrilled gamers worldwide are enjoying the incredibly immersive gaming experiences along with deep social capabilities and entertainment by our network," said president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Andrew House.

"After a remarkable launch, we look forward to bringing even more exciting content and continuing to explore the power of the PS4 system by adding new features and services, including PlayStation Now, in 2014."

By comparison, the Xbox One had sold 3 million units in the same time frame, although that console is only available in 13 countries.

Software sales for the PS4 stand at 9.7 million copies through retail purchases and digital downloads.

The highest selling games are Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, FIFA 14, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and Killzone: Shadow Fall.

Sony also claimed that PlayStation Plus subscriptions had increased by 90% since the PS4 launch, undoubtedly due to the fact that a PS Plus subscription is now needed to play multiplayer games.