PlayStation 5 sales in the US rose 22% in September, according to new data, reinforcing speculation that the PlayStation 6 may not launch in 2027 as originally expected. The figures, from Circana and shared by Bloomberg, show revenue from PS5 hardware increased 43% during the month, making it a bigger earner than both the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Xbox Series X.
Wolverine and GTA 6 Drive Sales
The sales boost is largely attributed to the launch of Marvel's Wolverine, which released in September and was the month's best-selling game in the US. Circana's senior director Mat Piscatella told IGN that the PS5's hardware boost was "primarily driven by Marvel's Wolverine," adding that "NBA 2K27 and Grand Theft Auto 6 also likely helped."
Piscatella also noted that Wolverine launched with a console bundle that "seems to have sold out," as well as a limited edition DualSense controller that was the month's best-selling accessory. The upcoming release of GTA 6, one of the most anticipated video games of all time, is also being prominently advertised for the PlayStation 5.
Signs of a Delay
The strong PS5 performance comes despite Sony raising the console's price earlier this year. Console manufacturers typically begin focusing on new hardware when sales of the current generation peak and start to decline. With PS5 sales still healthy, analysts and insiders suggest Sony may hold off on the PlayStation 6.
A report in July suggested the PlayStation 6 is now planned for late 2028, while a more recent rumour indicated Xbox was also pushing its new console back to the same time. Ongoing memory shortages could further hamper Sony, with some insiders suggesting the PlayStation 6 might be delayed as far as 2029.
The uptick in PS5 Pro sales following the GTA 6 Netflix preview adds to the case for a delayed launch. If PS5 sales continue at their current pace, Sony may see little reason to rush the next generation, avoiding fan complaints about hardware arriving before it's needed.
