Sony Corp. will start selling the PlayStation 4 in North America on Nov. 15, moving to obtain an early advantage in the largest video game market against Microsoft Corp.

The $399 player, Sony's first new console in seven years, will be available in Europe on Nov. 29 and in 32 countries for the Christmas holiday season, Sony Computer Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Andrew House said Tuesday in Cologne, Germany, ahead of the annual Gamescom, Europe's biggest game conference. Orders already top 1 million, he said.

Sony's plans put the PlayStation 4 in more than double the markets of Microsoft's costlier Xbox One as the two companies begin a multiyear battle for dominance. Microsoft, which initially targeted 21 countries for its debut, last week cut the number to 13 to ensure larger markets have sufficient supplies.