( dpa )- US sales of video game hardware and software in February jumped 34 per cent to 1.33 billion dollars, as Sony's PlayStation 3 outsold Microsoft's Xbox 360 for the second month running.
Both consoles still trailed far behind Nintendo's Wii, which sold 432,000 units, compared to the PS3's 281,000 and Xbox 360's 255,000 units, according to market research firm NPD. Overall the top selling console was Nintendo's handheld DS, which sold 588,000 units.
Software sales in February were up 47 per cent year-on-year while hardware sales rose 19 per cent, NPD said.
Microsoft blames its trailing position on inventory shortages caused by stronger-than-expected demand over the holidays. But the company says it will sort out the supply problems by the April debut of the hotly anticipated game Grand Theft Auto 4.