Sony Computer Entertainment Australia is claiming that the PlayStation 3 outsold Microsoft’s Xbox 360 by 45 per cent during the first quarter of 2008.

Speaking to PALGN, Sony’s Michael Ephraim stated, “I can tell you in the first quarter of 2008 we have outsold Xbox 360 by around 45 percent.”

“That is not including the Bravia deal, which moved through around 30,000 units, so if you add the Bravia deal to our global sales we have now, in the first quarter of 2008 we have outsold the Xbox 360 by 2:1.”

In regards to whether or not he felt the console would eventually surpass the Xbox 360’s install base, Ephraim added, “we think it's a matter of time before we surpass the install base, but I think with Xbox, they've had a few strong English speaking territories, US, UK and Australia being one of them.”

“In Europe they were very weak in Continential Europe, so they have done fairly well here, but with the rate we're going we will definitely surpass the install base, we're just guessing somewhere around the end of the year, if not sooner if the trend keeps going the way it is."

Source