New sales data shows the PlayStation 5 is still selling strongly nearly six years after launch, with lifetime sales in the US outpacing both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, while the Xbox Series X/S continues to struggle.
PS5 Sales Compared to Previous Generations
According to sales data from Circana, the PlayStation 5’s life-to-date sales in the US, covering 71 months, are 1% higher than what the PlayStation 4 sold in the same period. Compared to the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation 5’s lifetime-to-date sales are 40% higher.
The PlayStation 5 has surpassed 95 million units sold, while the PlayStation 4’s last recorded sales numbers stand at 117.2 million. The console saw a 22% boost in US sales in September, attributed to Insomniac’s Wolverine game.
Xbox Series X/S Continues to Lag
By the same 71-month metric, Xbox Series X/S life-to-date sales in the US are 28% lower than the Xbox One and 35% lower than the Xbox 360. Xbox boss Asha Sharma insists there is ‘more demand than consoles available,’ though Microsoft is reportedly producing few consoles.
The PlayStation 5 has remained more expensive than the PlayStation 4, even before a price hike, and has faced criticism online over a lack of exclusives and Sony’s physical game plans. Despite this, its sales have improved since launch.
What This Means for Future Hardware
There are increasing rumours that Sony is considering delaying the launch of the PlayStation 6 until after next year, as the current console continues to attract buyers. The Xbox Series X/S has offered increasingly little competition as the generation has progressed, with anticipation for GTA 6 heavily promoting the PlayStation 5 version.
