Sony Has Sold Over 9 Million PS5 Consoles Since Launch
The winner takes it all in the console wars, and while Microsoft looks like its future is sorted after THAT superstar E3 showcase, that hasn't stopped Sony from taking the first victory in the next-gen race. It was already confirmed that the PlayStation 5 was outselling the Xbox Series X/S, but now, we know exactly how many PS5s have been sold.
When we look back on the history of gaming, 2020 will be a massive one. Not only for the release of The Last of Us Part II and the Cyberpunk 2077 drama, but as the year Microsoft and Sony launched their next-gen juggernauts. As players settle in for the next life cycle - and the dust starts to settle - let's look at the facts.
How many PS5s have been sold since launch?
According to VGChartz, the PS5's eight-month lifespan has seen it shift a whopping 9 million units. To put that into context, it means it's already closing in on the lifetime sales of the Sega Dreamcast (9.13 million) and Sega Saturn (9.26 million). Up next, the PS5 will surely overtake the Nintendo Wii U's 13.56 million sold. After that, is the OG Xbox and its 24 million units sold between 2001 and 2009 in danger? We definitely think so.
Looking at recent sales, the tiny window of May 30 to June 5 saw another 200,000 PS5s sold - helping it nudge over the 9 million mark. In contrast, the Xbox Series X/S sold 112,864 units and now stands at 5.33 million units. Even though the PS5 is still ahead, a difference of just under 87,000 is getting smaller.
Elsewhere, PlayStation numbers says that figure has climbed to 9.1 million by June 17, and that the PS5 is tracking at 510,000 units ahead of the PS4 at this period in its own cycle. Could we really be on track for one of the biggest consoles of all time?
All of the above doesn't take into account problems with semiconductors, which have led to supply issues across the board. The global pandemic has stunted the sales of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S thanks to gaps in the production chain, and it's a problem both sides are still trying to rectify.
Will Sony continue to outsell Microsoft?
The million-dollar question is, will this trend continue? While it's hard to see Microsoft being able to completely close the gap between itself and its biggest rival, Xbox boss Phil Spencer is clearly planning some big things. As well as the long-awaited release of Halo Infinite that was supposed to be the console's flagship, the recent acquisition of ZeniMax Media has paved the way for a bright future.
E3 showed exactly what Microsoft is cooking up, with new announcements like Redfall and The Outer Worlds 2 settling in alongside a closer look at Starfield. Those at the top have played coy about what will and won't be an Xbox exclusive, however, it's made PS5 owners rightly question if it's also time to buy an Xbox. Given the attractive price point of the Xbox Series S, it's definitely a tempting offer when you consider the Xbox Game Pass.
On the other end of the spectrum, there's Nintendo. It's no secret that Nintendo wiped the floor with the competition, as the Nintendo Switch went on to become the best-selling console of 2020. It's also going great guns in 2021. All of that's before we get to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 in 2022 and the mythical release of the Nintendo Switch Pro.
At the end of the day, the big three all do their own thing and have a loyal following of fans. Even hardcore gamers probably have a favourite. Sales figures of a base console are all well and good, but they don't always translate into money in the bank. It's a long-running confirmation that companies tend to lose money on hardware. Bearing in mind it's software where the big bucks are, the fact that nearly half of Resident Evil Village's copies sold on PS5 is probably something bigger to shout about.