BEIJING, Dec. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) games console sold 183,217 units in November in Japan, outselling Nintendo's Wii's 159,193 units for the first time, media reported Monday.

This may be a turning point for Sony's struggling games division. The PS3 has lagged the Wii in sales since the devices were launched late last year due to the Sony machine's high price and scarcity of strong game titles.

Sony Computer Entertainment America reported similar success in the United States, where PlayStation 3 hardware sales have increased by nearly 300 percent.

Sony launched a 40GB model for Y40,000 (361 U.S. dollars) in Japan in November and cut prices on 20GB models, which ignited sales and could provide the nextgeneration console with the momentum it needs through the holiday shopping season.

But some analysts remained skeptical, saying that one month was hardly enough to forecast a turnaround.

Analysts said this year's Christmas season is crucial for Sony's PS3 in terms of winning the "perception wars."

(Agencies)