I did some quick estimates based on last year's numbers, and this is pretty likely to come true. Usually the final 4 months of the year (Sep-Dec) are equal to or slightly higher than the first 8 months of the year (Jan-Aug) thanks to the holidays. Even with a heavily front-loaded software lineup for 2008, the PS3 should end up right around the numbers in the initial post. (Why 6.9m? Why not the nice round number of 7m?)
The PS2/PS3 comparison is somewhat disingenous though, because in 2001* the PS2 about 18m units. Of that total, the PS3 sold about 5m in Japan, 7.5m in America, and 5.5m in Europe - well balanced in all regions. In contrast, the PS3 does over half its sales in Europe (54% to-date in 2008), compared to 35% in America and around 11% in Japan. In other words, while PS3 will likely exceed the PS2 European total from 2001, the worldwide comparison isn't going to look nearly as good. (PS3 should be around 13m worldwide for 2008.)
* Sony's 2001 fiscal year, not calendar year
End of 2008 totals: Wii 42m, 360 24m, PS3 18.5m (made Jan. 4, 2008)
