Around this time last year, few could have predicted what the future would hold for Sony's PS4. With several months having passed since the console's official unveiling, most were excited by the prospect of the new PlayStation console, more so then the Xbox One at that point, but it was hard to know how well the device would sell. Then, when Sony's Jack Tretton took the stage at E3 2013, and revealed the PS4's surprisingly affordable price point, it became clear the console was poised to make a huge splash on the market.

However, it's one thing to presume strong sales and another to see them, and luckily for Sony the PS4 has, thus far, been selling extremely well. Since its debut in November, the console has been keeping pace ahead of the Xbox One and is currently at about 7 million units sold. In fact, one analysis firm predicts the console will hit 12M units sold by the end of 2014, a benchmark that not only seems attainable but beatable.

With all that being said, it's fair to say that the PS4's success puts it on par with some of the best selling consoles of any generation. But what about THE best selling console ever? How will it fair against the PS2?

According to Sony CEO Kaz Hirai, who would be the best person to ask with these sorts of questions, the company expects the PS4 to exceed the PS2's profits, which would make it the best selling console ever. Hirai believes that the strong console sales in the early months, combined with the growing digital market, will help continue the PS4's tremendous run.

"It is likely that PS4 will become the platform which exceeds the profits earned with PS2."

Although the PS4 is clearly on a strong path it's important to mention that Hirai's statements were made at a Sony corporate strategy meeting. These are the folks who want to hear good news, especially as the rest of Sony is in an unbelievably bad downward spiral, and so talk of surpassing the PS2 is sure to give them something to be happy about.

However, while Hirai's aims are admirable, and certainly attainable if the PS4 continues on its upward trajectory, a lot has changed since the launch of the PS2. For starters, Sony faces a strong competitor in the Xbox One and Microsoft, who just recently announced a plan to match the PS4's price. Not to mention the rapidly growing PC market, which just recently eclipsed console game sales worldwide.

Either way, we're a long way from finding out whether Hirai's predictions will come true, but right now the PS4 console is selling well and keeping it that way should be Sony's primary focus. We'll see how exactly they plan to do that at E3 2014 next month.

Do you think the PS4 will eventually outgross the PS2 in terms of profits? Why or why not?

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Source: Impress Watch (via Eurogamer)

Follow Anthony on Twitter @ANTaormina for more PS4 news.