The PS3 was by far the slowest out of the gate this console cycle, struggling early with a hefty price tag, too few must-have games, and a fanbase that proved much harder to pry away from their PS2s than Sony thought possible. However, things seem to be getting better in the realm of the Playstation, and Sony is quite content with May’s NPD numbers.

Leading the whole press release is Sony’s proud announcement that they moved 208,709 PS3 units in May, over 22,000 more than Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Sony attributes this sales boost to enthusiasm for Grand Theft Auto IV, SingStar, and Haze. I get the feeling that the only reason Haze made that list is because someone had been told that in order to use commas in a list you need to have at least three items, and there really wasn’t anything else to fill that last slot. The company is also anticipating strong sales in June on the back of the PS3 exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

Sony also gave brief praise to the PSP (182,310 units sold) and the PS2 (132,708 units sold), but spent most of the release languishing praise on the PS3. The company cited continued growth in all sectors, pointing out that there are now 9 million registered users on the Playstation Network, and mentioning how the emergence of Blu-ray as the next-gen video storage unit of choice will lead to continued strong sales.

Finally, not content to let Microsoft hog all the GTA IV glory, Sony boasted a 32% attach rate of the game, 6% higher than Microsoft. Of course, when you’re working with a smaller install base and have fewer must-own games, it’s pretty easy for your attach rates to be higher. Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t spoil Sony’s fun, let them have their moment of joy: it’s right back to third place tomorrow.