If I buy an Xbox, that counts as a sale. If the Xbox breaks a year later and I go buy another one to replace it, that counts as another sale. It doesn't retroactively revoke the previous sales. 2 units that MS shipped out were bought. It doesn't matter to them if 2 people bought one a piece or 1 person bought 2. It's still 2 units sold.

The gen isn't over until devs stop releasing A rated games for the consoles. Forza Horizon 2 for the 360, Persona 5 and Zestiria for the PS3, plus all the third party cross platform games.

As someone else said, RRoD also gave Microsoft an unfair advantage.  The PS3 would have passed the 360 years ago if not for all the original RRoD consoles that added several duplicate purchases depending on the owner.  A sales a sale though.  Got to take the win whenever you can get it right?

Point 1: http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/10/report-ps3-surpasses-xbox-360s-worldwide-shipped-total

Point 2: that's just what I've heard over the last 9 years, people buying 2, 3, 4, etc Xboxes 360s due to RROD. Don't try and deny it just because you don't like it. I'm sure you've heard people say it. Hell, you may (I say "may" so you don't ignore everything else and jump on that one thing to make it seem like you've invalidated me, if you actually haven't) have purchased more than one

I stopped caring after the first ps3 > 360 party

I'm just gonna say that they tied but I will give the advantage to Xbox 360 for selling way more software.

How could it "officially came in 2nd" for the 7th generation when the 7th generation is still going?

Just because 8th gen consoles released doesn't mean the 7th gen is over. Who comes in 3rd, 2nd or 1st all depends on where each console is when they are officially discontinued.

well even if more 360 sold more units, due to rrod the install base of the ps3 is still larger.

http://www.t3.com/news/kinect-issues-spark-red-ring-of-death-as-sales-top-8-million 

article staes that 30% of the first waive were afected before the black slim. and then again afer the kicknect was released. im guessing at least 10-15mil should not be total install base.

1. Yup, then MS announced 80m before Sony in like October or something.

2. I've heard people say they've had their console red ring. Mine red ringed right before I got a 360 Slim + Kinect for Christmas 2010. But I'm sure there's plenty of people who bought a slim version of any console after having a fat version. I know one person that still has his fat PS3 but still bought a slim for his kids. Hell I'll most likely do that when a new Xbox One comes out too.

And this is why comparing the size of the userbases is more important than comparing sales, especially when MS admitted that over 10 million 360s were faulty prior to their warranty extension.

Links: http://www.crn.com.au/News/85600,microsoft-facing-us115bn-xbox-360-repair-bill.aspx

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33854/Analysts_PS3_Passes_Xbox_360_Worldwide_Nintendo_Successor_Within_A_Year.php

OT: The only thing that's "official" is that we know diddly squat on who's ahead of who on sales.

officially it never did and probably never will