That figure might be acceptable if Sony's true rival – Microsoft's Xbox 360 – hadn't shifted 228,000 games consoles during February.

Microsoft's console now features in 5.1 million US homes, which gives Sony an uphill battle to climb.

And with the Wii shipping 355,000 consoles in February – the same as both Sony and Microsoft's figures for that month – Sony could find itself as the third-favourite console manufacturer for the first time ever.

"If the Xbox and the games that work on it continue to gain share, Sony is in real trouble," said Douglas A McIntyre, analyst at 24/7 Wall Street.

"The Wii caters to a different, lower price point in the market, and should continue to roll up big numbers. Not so the PlayStation."