Analyst: 'Xbox One to overtake PS4 in North America'

Sales of the Xbox One will overtake the PlayStation 4 in North America by the end of 2016, according to research firm IDC.

International Data Corporation is predicting that Microsoft will unbundle the Kinect and Xbox One in 2015, which would lead to a price cut and bring it in line with the cheaper PS4.

This would apparently spike the Xbox One's recovery and give it the largest installed base of any console in North America by the end of 2016.

However IDC said the PS4 would still maintain the lead worldwide, estimating 51 million units sold by that time.

The research firm is also claiming that physical game sales will decline 45% compared to the last-generation, as we move into the digital age.

IDC will be publishing a 73-page report on games hardware and software later this week.