Sony’s Kaz Hirai has told the BBC that the Playstation 3 will reclaim its previously held market-leading position within its ten year lifecycle.

Two things there, straight away – we imagine Nintendo and Microsoft might have a thing or two to say about that and does anyone else fancy playing the same console for the next decade? After all, won’t we be on Xbox 1080 and Nintendo Wahey by then?

Of course Hirai’s comments are just another facet of Sony’s ongoing boast offensive. And they’ve plenty to brag about too, with PS3 sales having recently surpassed the Xbox 360’s European total. The PS3 is a fast-rising force around the world too – sure it’s not yet reached the global totals of its competitors (Wii 25 million, Xbox 360 nearly 19 million) but with 12 and a bit million sold since the machine’s (late) launch and sales on a sharply upward trajectory more recently Sony’s certainly heading in the right direction. At long, long last.

All the same Hirai knows that it’s a marathon, not a sprint: "We've only really begun to scratch the surface with PlayStation 3 but I am confident that given the long life-cycle we have planned for the machine we are going to have a very good install base in all of the major territories. I am very confident that after the 10-year lifecycle we will have the install base that we are looking for and that is obviously to be in the leadership position."

Elsewhere in the interview he reveals that Sony has already begun to explore the possibility of network gaming without the need for a dedicated console – very intriguing – and then, for good measure, he reiterates all the big games/applications as revealed at the recent Playstation Day. All of which we want to play. A lot!

If Sony can keep that level of quality up they may well achieve their goal. But then we imagine that Nintendo and Microsoft have a few plans for global domination of their own…