PlayStation 5 Nears PlayStation 4 Sales Milestone Despite Launch Challenges

Sony’s latest earnings report reveals that global sales of the PlayStation 5 have exceeded 80 million units, positioning it close to surpassing its predecessor, the PlayStation 4. The company disclosed selling 18.5 million PS5 consoles during the most recent fiscal year, spanning April 2023 to March 2024.

A slight discrepancy emerges when comparing sales figures across different reporting sources. While financial reports initially indicated approximately 20.8 million units sold in 2023, Sony’s Business Data & Sales website lists 20.9 million, ultimately resulting in a cumulative total of 80.3 million PlayStation 5 consoles distributed to retailers and distributors.

This figure places the PS5 just shy of the PlayStation 4’s impressive performance. The earlier console achieved sales of 82.3 million units following its introduction.

The achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the significant hurdles faced by the PlayStation 5 during its early years. Global supply chain disruptions, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a worldwide semiconductor shortage, created considerable difficulties in production and distribution. Consequently, securing a console proved exceedingly difficult for consumers navigating high demand and opportunistic resellers.

Looking forward, anticipation surrounding the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 next year is expected to further bolster PlayStation 5 sales, potentially propelling it past the lifetime totals recorded by the PlayStation 4.