In what looks set to be the most successful console relaunch ever (well, since the Mega Drive 2 at least) sales of Sony's PlayStation 3 console have skyrocketed since the release of the new PS3 slim last week.
ChartTrack, though not supplying specific numbers, have confirmed a 1000% increase in week-on-week sales of the console. The PS3 Slim outsold the Xbox 360 and Wii, consoles it had previously lagged behind, by a ratio of 3:1.
Initial reports on several reputable gaming websites suggest sales have comfortably passed the half a million mark worldwide (despite a rather odd advertising campaign in Japan).
While the 1000% increase would have been boosted somewhat by gamers anticipating the new version's release and holding off on buying the old console, this is still great news for Sony and what has been until this point a beleaguered machine. If the sales boost can keep going until Christmas, Microsoft and Nintendo could have a real fight on their hands.
It begs the question however - if all these gamers have had a few hundred quid burning a hole in their pocket all this time, doesn't the Slim's success provide even more proof that the original PS3's pricing and release were somewhat misguided?
