85,000 units of the PlayStation 3 hardware add-on PlayTV have been shipped to UK retailers.

The peripheral, which acts as a freeview box and recorder, went on sale last weekend priced at £69.99.

According to Sony, pre-orders for the device exceeded 9,000. With favorable reviews in the press, strong sales figures are expected over the Christmas period.

PlayTV will be released across continental Europe in December, but there is no word on a US launch.