Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) just announced that their latest addition to the PlayStation series of consoles, the PS5, has just reached 50 million units sold. Read on to learn more about the announcement.
PlayStation 5 Surpasses 50 Million Units Sold Milestone
As was announced today by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) on their official website, their latest console, the PlayStation 5, has officially surpassed the 50 Million Units Sold milestone (dated as of December 9, 2023). The console’s commercial success was attributed to the unending support of its fans, the state of video games in the last couple of years, and SIE’s dedication to innovating the gaming experience.
"Achieving this PS5 sales milestone is a testament to the unwavering support of the global PlayStation community and their passion for the incredible experiences created by the talented developers from PlayStation Studios and our partners," said Jim Ryan, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment.
"We’re grateful for all of our players who have joined the PS5 journey so far, and we’re thrilled that this is the first holiday season since launch that we have a full supply of PS5 consoles – so anyone who wants to get one can get one."
PlayStation 5 Hits Its Stride
2023 is the year that the PS5 hit its stride, with many developers utilizing the console’s advanced technology to develop games that were thought impossible. This is a hugely successful turn of events, as for a time, the console’s future was shaky at best.
The PS5 had a rocky start, facing sweeping stock shortages shortly after its 2020 release because scalpers depleted the stores in record time. Worldwide supply of the console also remained low due to a global chip shortage since 2020. 2022 also saw a dip in the console’s sales after a 20% price increase threatened to make it far less accessible. Such instabilities turned the PS5’s sales trends into a rollercoaster, rising at the start of every year since its release and dipping by the end.
PS5 Outsells Xbox Series X/S
Evidently, all of that was unable to stifle the console’s growth in the public eye as THE console among consoles. Reaching 50 million total units sold is a major milestone indeed, especially considering that the Xbox Series X/S - its generational counterpart from Microsoft - only managed a measly 21 million within the same period.
The Impact of 2023’s Greatest Titles on PS5 Sales
There’s no denying it; a lot of the momentum that the PS5 gathered this year was owed to the killer lineup of games that came out in 2023, of which a few were exclusive to the PS5. Despite its loss in The Game Awards 2023, Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 did a lot of the heavy lifting for the PS5 at the latter end of the year. Larian Studio’s Baldur’s Gate 3 also pulled its weight, alongside Alan Wake 2, Final Fantasy 16, EA Sports FC 24, and the PlayStation debut of Roblox.
With the PS5 in its full run only 3 years into its life cycle, there’s no telling what other milestones it will hit in the future.
Source:
Sony Interactive Entertainment's Official Announcement Article
