According to a recent study by Strategy Analytics, the PlayStation 4 is on its way to outpacing the Xbox One by 23 million in lifetime sales through 2018.

Loading

The Connected Home Devices report suggests that 80 million PS4 consoles will be in use by 2019, compared to 57 million Xbox One consoles –– that's a 40 percent higher installed base for Sony's new console. 2019 is near the projected peak for both consoles' life cycles, but there will be room for "modest future growth," Strategy Analytics says.Last week, Sony told IGN 18.5 million PS4s have been sold since the console launched in November of 2013. The Xbox One has shipped an estimated 12.4 million units during the same period, according to the study. At those paces, the PS4 is closer to first-year sales of the PS2, which initially sold 20.1 million. The PS2 remains the best-selling console in history, moving 150 million units in its lifetime. The Nintendo Wii, coming in at second, sold more than 100 million Sony CEO Kaz Hirai recently expressed the company's future dependence on the PS4 , citing Apple and Samsung's dominance as the main reason for Sony's slower growth in the smartphone sector. Hirai said plans involve expanding the PlayStation Network user base, as well as improving its music-streaming service.If Strategy Analytics' recent report is accurate in four years, Sony's faith may be well placed.

Mike Mahardy is a freelance journalist writing for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter at @mmahardy