Update: NPD put the PS3 ~940K for Dec.  VGC's updated gap is ~535K in favor of the PS3.  It still seems we have the 360 overtracked in the US by at least ~336K, while the PS3 may still be overtracked by ~38K (if only ~100K over NPD for both is considered fine).  Actually, it seems that for the enitre year VGC isn't as far off.  ~192K over for the 360 and ~54K under for the PS3 in the US.  It appears the answer was option 2.

With NPD totals, VGC has the 360 overtracked by 1.26M in the US (the 360‘s best market).  We also have the PS3 overtracked by ~330K (US is a pretty good market for the PS3, but definitely not its best).  This puts the new gap, with the recent adjustments, to ~990K in favor of the PS3.  However, MS (or more specifically Steve Ballmer) stated they were #1 in HW sales for 2011 at CES.  I think we have one of three possibilities here.

1.  The PS3 is INCREDIBLY overtracked in EU (unlikely) and/or the 360 is INCREDIBLY undertracked there (unlikely).  I say unlikely because EU is “PS country.”  It’s also up ~8.5% YOY in Japan.  So I think it would be hard for it to be so undertracked in EU, when we have it relatively flat in one of its best regions (its actually down ~0.2%).  The 360 is down, as well, but by ~6.4%.  So I think the best the 360 could do is be down by the same amount as the PS3 (again, this is basically “PS country”).  This would make it undertracked by ~73K, which is still not enough to overcome the gap.

2.  Steve got excited, and in announcing the 66+ million sold, he was including shipments from the first couple of weeks in January.  This is definitely a possibility, however, I think the more likely possibility is…

3.  MS decided to change the criteria for selling #1 WW.  If you remember, around the time they first made the claim, they also clarified that they meant actual retail sales and not shipment numbers.  I think they may have changed it from being about retail sales to shipment numbers, without really saying anything about it.  This most likely meant selling consoles to retailers at the same price that they would be when MS drops the price of the 360 this year (so 250GB SKUs for less than $199).  This also means that MS will have an extremely small shipment for Q1 2012.  Edit: Of course, they couldn't just force retailers to take extra stock, even with special prices.  A lot of this was most likely due to retailers overestimating demand for the console because of such great Nov sales.

So, for right now and in terms of retail sales, it looks like the PS3 did keep a gap of  ~990K above the 360 this year.  However, 360 may lay claim to the shipment war.  Of course, we’ll have to wait til shipment numbers from MS and Sony to begin to get the full picture.  Unfortunately, we may even have to wait til shipment numbers for Q1 2012 til it is 100% confirmed.

The #3 is more likely or the 66m shipped is a rounded number (eg. 55.7m)

Damn you're desperate, why don't you provide some unbiased points (like yes it can be heavily undertracked in Europe because they had extensive advertising this holiday there) and yes PS3 can be undertracked because it's DOWN yoy this Q in Japan, and DOWN yoy this Q in US. Last Q4 had GT5, you don't think it can be down? really?

There are a lot of other countries that sell X360, like all the countries it also got extensive advertising in and price cuts.

I love how you just assume there is a 1m gap ... you're unbelieveable

I'm not saying 360 has won, or that PS3 isn't ahead in actual sold units. But you've just come up with everything to suit your argument again. Why am I not surprised ....

It was a fantastic spin that PR are used to do.

MS wouldn't say it if they didn't have the numbers to back it up. Sony didn't claim it and you know they would have if they had sales numbers. It's probably pretty close, but right now I have no reason not to believe MS.

Seece said: Damn you're desperate, why don't you provide some unbiased points (like yes it can be heavily undertracked in Europe because they had extensive advertising this holiday there) and yes PS3 can be undertracked because it's DOWN yoy this Q in Japan, and DOWN yoy this Q in US. Last Q4 had GT5, you don't think it can be down? really? There are a lot of other countries that sell X360, like all the countries it also got extensive advertising in and price cuts. I love how you just assume there is a 1m gap ... you're unbelieveable I'm not saying 360 has won, or that PS3 isn't ahead in actual sold units. But you've just come up with everything to suit your argument again. Why am I not surprised ....

Assume there is a ~1 million gap?  There is if we still go by VGC numbers + NPD numbers.  There was no assuming there at all. 

@ bold

It's funny how you call out people as bias because they see things different from you.  Besides, you have been on this site long enough to realize we all have our favorites and are biased towards them (even you).  I think it's about time to get over it.

waiting for official numbers

VGC adjusts big time after official numbers

Yes, I am going to bend them over my knee and spank them. Naughty children making predictions that are wrong deserve punishment.

PS3 obviously won 2011. We have the data to prove it. and NPD number further prove it.

pezus said: Seece said: Damn you're desperate, why don't you provide some unbiased points (like yes it can be heavily undertracked in Europe because they had extensive advertising this holiday there) and yes PS3 can be undertracked because it's DOWN yoy this Q in Japan, and DOWN yoy this Q in US. Last Q4 had GT5, you don't think it can be down? really? There are a lot of other countries that sell X360, like all the countries it also got extensive advertising in and price cuts. I love how you just assume there is a 1m gap ... you're unbelieveable I'm not saying 360 has won, or that PS3 isn't ahead in actual sold units. But you've just come up with everything to suit your argument again. Why am I not surprised .... Yeah you should include more possibilites imo.

I would, but there really aren't any others that I can think of.  We have checks in place for US and Japan, maybe a few other countries.  But EU is most likely going to be where the over/undertracking is.  That doesn't mean that #1 isn't correct, but I just gave a few reasons why I don't think the numbers are that off.  And if they are, it's most likely going to be both that are overtracked.  I don't see the 360 pulling a miracle and just getting most of the non-US/UK countries to say "Screw the PS3" after it dominating in them for so long, and then go out and buy upwards of ~1 million 360 consoles in 3 months, causing it to jump ahead of the PS3.