Sony has achieved another significant milestone with its PlayStation 5 console, confirming the sale of over 40 million units since its launch in November 2020. Notably, approximately 8 million units have been sold since the beginning of this year.
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While this figure falls short of last year’s holiday sales, during which Sony sold 7.1 million PS5s in one quarter, the company now assures that inventory is ample, and supply is keeping up with demand, potentially eliminating the need to wait for fresh stock in stores.
The PS5 achieved the remarkable feat of reaching 10 million sales within its first eight months, benefiting from its launch during a holiday period when many people were confined to their homes due to the early stages of the pandemic. This resulted in the PS5 becoming Sony’s fastest-selling console to date. Interestingly, even in the post-holiday period, where demand typically decreases, the PS5 is nearing a similar sales pace.
Comparing figures, Sony had shipped over 117 million PS4s by early 2022 and nearly 157 million PS2s by 2013. In contrast, Nintendo had sold nearly 123 million Switch units by the end of 2022. While these numbers demonstrate Sony’s strong performance, they also indicate that the company still has a way to go before surpassing its all-time best sales records and outpacing its current-generation competitors.
The future momentum of PlayStation sales remains uncertain. There is no guarantee of a redesigned or upgraded console arriving in the near future. However, the game catalogue is improving, with more PlayStation games exclusive to the PS5, including highly anticipated titles like Spider-Man 2. Additionally, Sony is heading into late 2023 with potentially system-selling accessories, such as PlayStation VR2 and the Project Q streaming device. Although the outcome is not assured, the company possesses the elements for a successful year ahead.
