Sales of Sony’s hi-def movies pass the 180,000 mark in Europe. With Sony’s high definition Blu-Ray format seemingly pulling away from Toshiba’s rival HD-DVD standard in the current hi-def war, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that European Blu-Ray sales have enjoyed a sharp rise since the arrival of PS3.

Tech Digest reports that over 180,000 Blu-Ray Sony movies have now been sold in Europe, with sales climbing by over 1000 per cent since Sony’s PlayStation 3 hit the market in March.

"The launch of the PS3 had a tremendous impact on Blu-Ray software sales across the board," Sony Pictures’ executive VP Matt Brown stated. "Recent sales figures are a clear indication that the PS3 is seen as an entertainment device."