Sony announced today that PlayStation 5 sales have surpassed 75 million units worldwide following its strongest quarter ever, with 9.5 million consoles shipped during the 2024 holiday season.
Why it matters: The milestone fundamentally validates Sony’s premium pricing strategy, as PS5 maintains pace with its predecessor PS4 despite launching at significantly higher price points during a period of global inflation.
Sales Performance: The PS5’s holiday quarter showcased unprecedented demand across multiple metrics:
- 9.5 million units shipped (up 16% year-over-year)
- 129 million monthly active users (up 5%)
- 74% of game sales now digital
Market Impact: Sony‘s gaming division reported substantial growth across key business segments:
- Operating income increased 37% year-over-year
- Network services revenue up 28%
- 42% of PS5 buyers were new to PlayStation
The PS5’s success comes despite significant pricing differences from its predecessor. While the PS4 was selling for $299 at this point in its lifecycle, the standard PS5 maintains a $499 price point, with the PS5 Pro commanding $699.The console has performed particularly well in the United States but faces some resistance in Europe due to its higher price point. Despite these challenges, the PS5 now trails the PS4’s aligned lifetime sales by just 1.7 million units, with the PS4 having reached 76.7 million units at the same point.”
The gaming segment saw major increases in operating income thanks to higher profit margins on hardware and third-party games,” says Sony in its financial report, leading the company to raise its fiscal year revenue forecast by 3%.Looking ahead, Sony has several major releases planned for 2025, including Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei, which could further accelerate PS5 adoption as the console enters its prime sales period.
