On its 5th birthday, PS5 sales remain virtually neck-and-neck with PS4

Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 7:24 am

PS5 Sales Remain Competitive with PS4 Despite Challenges

Sony's PlayStation 5 (PS5) has reached its fifth anniversary, with sales figures showing a strong performance despite facing initial stock shortages and a higher price point compared to its predecessor, the PlayStation 4 (PS4). According to the latest financial results ending September 30, 2025, the PS5 has sold 84.2 million units. During the three-month period, the console sold 3.9 million units. This places the PS5 nearly on par with the PS4, which had sold 86 million units at a similar stage in its lifecycle.

Sony anticipates selling approximately 15 million PS5 consoles in the current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2025. This projection suggests the PS4 may surpass the PS5 in total sales during the same period, as the PS4 sold 17.8 million units during its corresponding period. However, the upcoming release of GTA 6 is expected to boost PS5 sales in the following business year. The PS4 ultimately sold 117 million units, ranking as Sony's second-best-selling console, behind the PlayStation 2.

Software sales have also been a key focus. The game Ghost of Yotei has sold over 3.3 million units, aligning with the performance of its predecessor. Live service games, including Helldivers 2 and MLB The Show 25, contributed over 40% of PlayStation's first-party software revenue during the reporting period, mirroring the previous quarter. Helldivers 2 has performed exceptionally well, particularly after its release on Xbox in August, with sales significantly increasing year-over-year.

However, Bungie's Destiny 2 has underperformed relative to initial expectations, leading to a downward revision of business projections and an impairment loss. Sony's chief financial officer expects Bungie's delayed live service shooter, Marathon, to launch by the end of March 2026.

Overall, Sony's Game and Network Services division saw a 4% year-on-year increase in sales, but operating income decreased by 13%, partially due to the impairment losses related to Bungie. Monthly active gaming users for the three months ending September 30 were 119 million, marking the third consecutive decline, though still higher than the 116 million recorded a year prior.

BNN's Perspective: The PS5's performance is commendable, especially considering the initial supply chain issues and price differences. While the decline in operating income and the challenges with Destiny 2 are concerning, the strong performance of other software titles and the anticipation surrounding GTA 6 suggest a positive outlook for the console's future. Sony appears to be navigating a complex market with a mix of successes and setbacks, and the long-term impact of its live service strategy remains to be seen.

Keywords: PS5, PlayStation 5, PS4, PlayStation 4, Sony, sales, gaming, console, Ghost of Yotei, Helldivers 2, MLB The Show 25, Destiny 2, Bungie, GTA 6, software, hardware, financial results, units sold, live service games

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