PS4, Xbox One Pre-Orders Break Records, Top 2,500 Units Per Minute On Amazon

In the wake of E3, pre-orders for the PS4 and Xbox One topped 2,500 units per minute at peak volume on Amazon, the retailer said.

The interest in the next-generation consoles resulted in a 4,000 percent year-over-year increase vs. console pre-orders during last year’s E3, but no new consoles were announced at the 2012 event.

According to Tech Crunch, the number of first-day pre-orders for the PS4 and Xbox One alone racked up nearly twice the value of total video game sales throughout Black Friday last year. Both consoles were completely sold out on Amazon just hours after they were made available for pre-order, which resulted in the retailer having its biggest pre-order week ever.

Amazon hasn’t said exactly how many pre-orders have been processed so far. However, the PS4 and Xbox One currently occupy two of the top three spots on the best-sellers list for video games. The Xbox One took No. 1 and the PS4 took No. 3 (The Last of Us for the PS3 is in the No. 2 spot.)

However, pre-order sales can be a bit misleading. When Nintendo first launched the Wii U, sales were initially strong but tapered off after the holiday season. It’s possible the same thing could happen to the PS4 and Xbox One.

Amazon has also seen a spike in sales of The Sopranos DVDs following star James Gandolfini’s sudden death this week. The 51-year-old, who played mobster Tony Soprano for six seasons, died in Italy Wednesday of a heart attack. Amazon was accused of trying to capitalize on Gandolfini’s untimely death, but Sopranos fans, as well as those who are new to the series, were behind the spike.

The Sopranos: The Complete Series is currently the top seller in the DVD category, with the first season sitting at No. 4 on the best-seller list. Two weeks ago, the 30-disc complete set was ranked No. 936 on Amazon’s movies and best-sellers lists.

Have you pre-ordered a PS4 or Xbox One (or both)?