Adam Birney / Android Authority
Sony has experienced unprecedented demand with the launch of the PlayStation 5 console, and supply chain issues haven’t really helped them get into the hands of anyone who wants one. Still, the PS5 is selling like hot cakes, delivering more than 20 million units to households around the world in its first two years. With some of the best exclusive games still on the way and supply finally catching up with demand, PS5 sales are on track to continue rising. Here’s everything you need to know about PS5 console sales history and future.
Read more: PS5 Buyer’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Sony’s PlayStation 5
THE SHORT ANSWER
Two years after launch, Sony sold more than 20 million PlayStation 5 consoles worldwide, achieving record profits. The supply restrictions are expected to go away in 2024, meaning PS5s may remain in stock.
IMPORTANT SECTIONS
PS5 sales figures: here’s how many were sold and why
As of June 2022, 20 million units of the PlayStation 5 have been sold worldwide. And believe it or not, that number could have been greater.
If you’ve tried to buy a PS5, you know that they usually sell out in minutes, if not seconds. Since its launch in November 2020, retailers in the United States have sold PS5s at a rate of nearly 1,000 units per minute. In comparison, at the same stage of the product lifecycle, PS4 units in the US were selling at six per minute.
Not only does increased demand make it harder to buy a PS5, but limited supply makes it nearly impossible. PS4s, on the other hand, are still available in abundance. To Sony’s credit, many new games have been dual-released on both PS4 and PS5 consoles, giving players a free upgrade to the PS5 version once they get the console so they don’t have to wait to get the latest titles. to play.
How has the pandemic supply chain disruption affected sales?
The PS5 was better than the PS4 in its first year on store shelves. But due to supply constraints, the PS5 undersold the PS4 in its second year. The two biggest obstacles to getting more PS5s produced were the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused staff shortages and factory closures, and Russia’s impact on logistics, which slowed parts supplies.
The good news is that the PS5 is expected to close the gap with PS4 sales for its third year. Sony is seeking multiple suppliers for greater flexibility in unstable market conditions and is negotiating new logistics partnerships to maintain delivery routes for their consoles. If all goes according to plan, the PS5 should again overtake the PS4 in terms of sales by its fourth year.
Read more: Grab a seat; the global chip shortage may be with us for a while
How do PS5 sales compare to the first two years of PS4 sales?
The PlayStation 4 has been an incredibly popular console for Sony, with over 100 million consoles sold to date, more than twice as many as the Xbox One in its lifetime. The PS4 managed to reach the milestone of 20 million units sold earlier than the PS5, in 15 months compared to 18 months, but to be fair, had it not been for the global chip shortage, the PS5 would have reached that milestone much earlier.
In terms of revenue, the PS5 has been a huge success for Sony, with net sales exceeding $2 billion in 2020. Granted, the PS5 console costs more than the PS4, but there has also been a significant digital shift. . With more people staying at home during the pandemic, more players were buying games directly from PlayStation Store rather than physical discs from traditional brick-and-mortar stores. In 2017, sales were nearly 50/50 split between digital and disc games, but in 2021 they were split 80/20.
Does the PS5 sell more than the Xbox Series X?
How does the PS5 compare to its rival Xbox Series X console? Well, as with the last generation of gaming, Sony is leaving Microsoft in the dust. The PlayStation 5 currently has lifetime sales of 21.61 million, while the Xbox Series X/S has lifetime sales of 15.98 million.
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
However, the best-selling console is neither the PS5 nor the Xbox Series X. Topping the charts is the Nintendo Switch, which has sold a whopping 110.71 million units in its lifetime. Part of the reason is that the Switch is less powerful than the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, uses weaker components and thus suffers less from the chip shortage. More Switches on the shelves at a more affordable price have made for a tempting option for gamers.
Read more: Can Google keep up with demand for the Pixel 6 series?
Frequently Asked Questions
To date, approximately 21.61 million PlayStation 5 consoles have been sold worldwide.
The demand for the PlayStation 5 is greater than any other console in Sony history. In addition, supply chain restrictions and chip shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic have slowed production. Retailers have limited stock for the PS5 and have generally set a limit of one unit sold per household to deter scalpers.
Sony has sold about five million PS5s more than Microsoft Xbox Series X/S consoles.
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