While Microsoft was trying to win back skeptical gamers, Sony played to the crowd in its Gamescom presentation, which included several reveals about the new PlayStation 4, including its launch date (Nov. 14). Sony worldwide president Andrew House couldn't resist taking a few shots at the Microsoft, noting some companies “have shifted their message and changed their story.”
Shares of Sony spiked 4 percent at the opening bell Monday, the first trading day since the consumer electronics and entertainment firm said over the weekend it had sold a million PlayStation 4 consoles within the first 24 hours of its release.
The PS4 went on sale Friday in the U.S. and Canada for $399, and its first-day sales outpaced all previous iterations of the video-game device. That’s good news for the console industry in general, given competition from handheld gadgets and digital technology.
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Sony’s forecast anticipated sales of as many as 5 million units by the end of its fiscal year in March.
Shares of Sony hit $19.16 during midday trading on Monday after closing Friday at $18.50. By the closing bell, though, the shares closed only 1 percent higher to $18.72.
Sony will get more competition for its next-generation video game console when Microsoft releases its Xbox One on Friday.
