Incredible as it might seem (and it really does seem it) the Xbox 360 and PS3 are pretty much neck and neck, sales wise, in the UK at the moment.

According to Chart Track’s data both systems have sold practically the same amount over the first 38 weeks of 2007, although it appears that 55% of the PS3’s inventory was shifted in the four-week honeymoon period shortly after launch. Meanwhile the 360’s sales prior to the recent launch of the Elite have been deemed as “verging on the unimpressive.” So says Chart Track’s Director, Dorian Bloch.

It all seems rather far-fetched given the Xbox 360-centric state of the video games charts and the PS3’s well-reported almost total lack of killer-app software titles, but we’re certainly not going to argue with Chart Track’s figures.

In any case it turns out that the Xbox 360’s sales have enjoyed a 260% leap since the Elite arrived and the price dropped, and the unit has been selling more than PS3 on a weekly basis ever since. We daresay the arrival of Halo 3 will help shift a few boxes too. And then, in a wider context, we should consider that the Xbox 360 has been on the market for nearly two years and has sold far more units cumulatively, whereas the PS3 is still a relative newcomer. Nevertheless this recent revelation must have caused at least a little consternation in the Microsoft boardroom. Blimey, who’d have thought it, eh...?