When Microsoft Corp. announced four years ago that it was getting into the video game business, skeptics questioned whether the world's largest software company could be anything but a distant second-best.
While Microsoft remains an underdog in the battle against Sony Corp., its Xbox is gaining ground: the No. 2 game console is expected to have outsold Sony's PlayStation 2 for the first time on a monthly basis in April, boosted by a price cut that made the Xbox cheaper than the PS2.
Microsoft, observers say, has proven that its console can hold its own against the still-dominant PS2 as both companies gear up for the next-generation of hardware releases.
Besides the April sales tally, the Xbox has also enjoyed a lucky streak lately of exclusive games.
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