Sony's PlayStation 3 beat Microsoft's Xbox 360 for the first time and came in slightly behind Nintendo's Wii in U.S. video-game console unit sales for January, according to numbers just released by the NPD Group market research firm. Microsoft hinted at the outcome yesterday when it reported that it had been experiencing Xbox 360 supply problems due to higher-than-expected holiday sales.

Here are the results for January:

Nintendo Wii: 274,000
PlayStation 3: 269,000
Xbox 360: 230,000

"We certainly believe that this is an anomaly, caused by the great demand we saw coming out of the holidays and continuing through January," said Microsoft spokesman David Dennis this afternoon. He noted the company is "working to do everything we can to replenish the inventory."

Microsoft is taking solace in the fact that "Call of Duty 4" on Xbox 360 was the top-selling game for the month, according to the NPD stats.

I have messages in to Sony and Nintendo representatives. More to come.

More info....

Microsoft, Xbox 360, Sony, PlayStation 3, PS3, Nintendo, Wii, Sales, Facts and Figures, Game Console