As a supplement to its third-quarter fiscal results leading publisher Electronic Arts has provided its own estimates for console and portable hardware. If EA is correct, it won't be a pretty sight for Microsoft across the pond.

EA's estimates predict that during 2008 both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will each sell between 4.5 million and 5.5 million units in North America (essentially tied). In Europe, however, EA's forecast shows only 1.5 to 2.5 million units sold for the Xbox 360, compared to 5.0 to 6.0 million for the PS3. If this prediction holds true, it would mean the PS3 would at least double sales of the Xbox 360, or at the extreme, quadruple sales of Microsoft's console.

The PlayStation brand in Europe has often been cited for its strength. Microsoft corporate vp Jeff Bell last December admitted that Europe would be a "swing territory" for the console war and he acknowledged that Sony in Europe "has had greater staying power than in other areas."

As for the other consoles, EA is predicting that in North America Nintendo's Wii will sell between 5.5 and 6.5 million units in 2008, with an even greater 6.5 to 7.5 million in Europe. The PS2 is forecast to sell 2.2 to 2.7 million in North America and 1.7 to 2.2 million in Europe.

On the portable side, unsurprisingly the DS is expected to easily outsell the PSP. EA believes the DS will sell 7.5 to 8.5 million units in North America compared to 3.5 to 4.5 million PSPs. In Europe the DS is expected to sell 6.5 to 7.5 million units compared to the PSP's 2.5 to 3.5 million.