It wasn't too long ago that the PlayStation 4 became the fastest console to reach 100 million units sold, already pushing the machine into the all-timers list. However, new information has just surfaced from Sony, shedding new light on the sales performance of the current gen box. The platform holder's latest financial report states it sold another 2.8 million consoles in the last quarter. This pushes PS4's total to approximately 102.8 million, just beating out the original PlayStation's 102.5 million total. The machine is now the second best selling home console ever.
It's still got some way to go if it wants to take the crown from PS2 -- 155 million is a tall order -- but even if Sony doesn't sell another PS4, it can decidedly be considered a great success. That quarterly figure of 2.8 million is down compared to last year, suggesting things are slowing with PS5 looming large. However, we'd expect Sony to make a push over the next couple of months ahead of the holidays, likely with aggressive pricing on Black Friday deals.
Are you surprised to see PS4 beat PSone in lifetime sales? Will it ever catch PS2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
[source sony.net, via engadget.com]
Comments 86
Second best selling game console ever? Neat.
Wait....something's missing.
Shouldn't this be second best selling home console? And 4th best selling console ever?
And before someone steps in and says, well handhelds aren't consoles....
"Also called game(s) console, gaming console, video-game console. a computer system specially made for playing video games by connecting it to a television or other display for video and sound." (Dictionary.com)
I feel maybe empthasing the home part would make this a bit clearer, as it still hasn’t taken the DS. Other than that, well done to Sony.
Yeah, it hasn’t outdone the DS so second best home console, not including handhelds.
Do the Nintendo DS and Game Boy not exist? It hasn't beaten those yet. Maybe you should have named it "Second Best Selling HOME Console"
I don't see the PS4 overtaking the PS2. After the PS5 comes out, I just feel like new PS4 sales will taper off rather quickly. People looking for a PS4 will be looking to the grey market as people get rid of their PS4's due to PS5 replacements.
Game Boy and DS are handhelds, not consoles.
Well deserved and not surprised at all.
If you're new to gaming,PS4 is the best console to get into it.
If you love gaming in general, the games,exclusives,price point just made it the obvious option.
It should hit 120mill sales lifetime and i doubt any console ever again will beat PS2's mammoth amount.
When did everyone become so pedantic and walking dictionaries to boot?
Of course the GB and DS are handheld consoles and technically the PS4 is 4th if you include everything but I think it's clear they were only talking about home consoles if they only mentioned the Wii in the article
-EDIT- Especially so now it's been edited to say so!
As Borat would say: "great success!"
@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Here's why.
To refer to these devices as solely "Consoles" as this piece does, is to use the broad term. By using the broad term of "Games consoles", they therefore include all sub-genres within, both home and handheld consoles.
To state it is the second best selling home console, is accurate. To say it is the second best selling console, is inaccurate. One specifies within the data, and one is a statement that ignores the data.
I can’t see it surpassing the PS2’s 155 million record, not when the PS5 is releasing in a little over a year from now but still over 100 million for the PS4 is still a massive success.
@Knuckles-Fajita Nobody calls GB or DS a console, they're handheld with different audience and price points for the hardware and software. The switch however, is a console, a portable one.
Okay, I've updated the headline. Let's keep things on topic please.
This totally deserves a low rendered gormless Nate pic.
@Quintumply ...and I had a whole big speech written and everything. Smart move, though, and congratulations to Sony! This is a huge achievement, no matter how you slice it.
@Knuckles-Fajita I thinki its more important now than ever before to make that distinction before apple or Samsung attempt to take the crown. So just accept the ps4 as number 2 and move on.
Some of you are unbelievably pedantic. Have a day off.
Contemporary nomenclature implies consoles are relegated to home use. But whatever. This is a great achievement For Sony. Hopefully next cycle can produce similar success.
Nintendo fans.
Good for Sony
It just dawned on me that it took over Wii. That is impressive.
@ShogunRok @get2sammyb To quote your own staff, let's keep things on topic please.
@Knuckles-Fajita Sorry sir
Will it catch the PS2? No, I don't think anything will ever catch that.
Has it finally put paid to that foul, waggle infested doorstep, the Wee...sorry, Wii? Oh yes...
@Knuckles-Fajita
Three likes, with mine, at the times of this writing.
Compare and contrast with five dislikes.
The Vita burn is still painful, I see.
What a party pooper are these Nintendo fans.
So the three best selling consoles of all time are Ps2, Ps4 and Ps1. How can anyone dispute Sony as the king of gaming?
Okay now can we actually stay on topic. We've had our fun.
The PS2 was still in production up until the launch of the PS4. How long will they continue with the PS4 after the PS5 launches? That information will determine where the final PS4 sales numbers end up. Impressive that PlayStation dominates the list of ALL consoles, home or otherwise.
155m is unrealistic.. though i suppose it depends on just how much cheaper they can sell a PS4 and whether it can tap into markets/territories where incomes are generally lower than US/Europe/Japan. at $150 say (or lower), it might bring it into the budget of more consumers.
but i would guess it'll probably have one last hurrah this winter, before sales tail off considerably. how many PS3s were sold after PS4 was announced and subsequently released? i think it'll probably top out at about 110-120m.
Here in Greece, there is a limited time sale running right now with a discount of 80€.
After some time we have black Friday, then Christmas holidays and after some months, a permanent price cut as usual at the end of a console's life time.
So I'm guessing all these will boost the low sales.
I'm guessing a top of 130 million until the end of production.
Reads comments
lol
"Pedantic" or not, there's no harm in editing an article to be more accurate.
No reason to be so sensitive. The PS4 is a massive, historic success of a console, and will be remembered as such.
@wiiware It's interesting you make that distinction with Switch/handhelds now that the Switch Lite is a thing, and technically all Switch games can be played natively on a dedicated handheld.
I'd say there's a large amount of overlap between people who buy different consoles, though. Most 3DS owners I know have owned a PS4, and PS2, and Wii, and Gameboy, and whatnot. Most gamers aren't wedded to just one multinational corporation.
@JoeBlogs If we're being pedantic, a handheld is still a computer connected to a display, per the definition. Just not an external one. Additionally, certain handhelds over the years, such as the PSP, for example, have actually allowed the user to play on the TV as well.
looking at current lifetime console sales and PlayStation has 4 of the top 5 slots and i wonder with the PS5 coming out can they keep that momentum going?
The 👑 king is here.congratulations.on the g.o.a.t.word up son
Microsoft is probably salty about this news lol.
@thefirst nah handhelds and mobile are a different market and thus counted in a separate list
it's also why P.C isn't counted either
@JoeBlogs No, you're reading more into the sentence than is there. A handheld is a "computer system connected to a display for video and sound." It says nothing about it needing to be an external display.
@Jay767 Microsoft is probably richer than Sony and Nintendo put together. The Xbox line is just a hobby for them.
@GamingFan4Lyf Yeah but PS2 kept selling well throughout the entire life of the PS3.
I personally didn't buy a PS2 until 2012.
It will be interesting to see if they can pass the DS or the PS2. The PS2 was more relevant when the PS3 was out. Amazing that a system with nothing to offer for the 1st 3 years has become this big.
@koaeinferno Well, Sony was blessed with competition that were their own worst enemies. Nobody wanted a Wii U, and Microsoft burned public good will at the Xbone reveal at an almost astonishing rate.
PS home consoles always sell extremely well, though. Even the PS3, which people often act like is a failure, ended up outselling the 360 that gen.
@JoeBlogs lol Now THAT is pedantic.
EDIT: If we look at Wikipedia...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_console
"A video game console is a computer device that outputs a video signal or visual image to display a video game that one or more people can play.
"The term 'video game console' is primarily used to distinguish a console machine primarily designed for consumers to use for playing video games, in contrast to arcade machines or home computers. An arcade machine consists of a video game computer, display, game controller (joystick, buttons, etc.) and speakers housed in large or small chassis. A home computer is a personal computer designed for home use for a variety of purposes, such as bookkeeping, accessing the Internet and playing video games. While arcades and computers are generally expensive or highly "technical" devices, video game consoles were designed with affordability and accessibility to the general public in mind.
"Unlike similar consumer electronics such as music players and movie players, which use industry-wide standard formats, video game consoles use proprietary formats which compete with each other for market share. There are various types of video game consoles, including home video game consoles, handheld game consoles, microconsoles and dedicated consoles. Although Ralph Baer had built working game consoles by 1966, it was nearly a decade before the Pong game made them commonplace in regular people's living rooms. Through evolution over the 1990s and 2000s, game consoles have expanded to offer additional functions such as CD players, DVD players, Blu-ray disc players, web browsers, set-top boxes and more."
@Ralizah I remember buying A Wii U at launch thinking they were going to get scalped like the Wii. All just to play New Super Mario Bros U on an 8gb system. Sad times indeed.
I just thought it was kinda obvious from the get go that the article was more so considering home consoles @Ralizah (Sony certainly doesn't have a pony in the handheld race after all anymore)
Certainly no ill will to @Knuckles-Fajita (Kudos on the rebuttal Fajita)
I honestly couldn't care less if the PS4 was in a millionth place... They'd still probably make more money in one day then I would in my lifetime and I certainly don't feel the need to praise them for selling a plastic box more then the others 😅
... Even if I do quite like my PS4 and it's library
@koaeinferno I bought mine for $200 used from Nintendo's website in 2014. It looked and worked like a new system.
As I've stated before, considering the talk before PS4 released was 'consoles are dead' this is a very impressive achievement. Would've been a great feat anyway but the bleak outlook people had for the future of consoles adds to it.
@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Oh, I'm sure it was talking primarily about home consoles. My point is that, since handhelds are technically consoles as well, there shouldn't any issue with someone pointing out the TECHNICALLY incorrect wording in the title (before it was edited, anyway).
I mainly commented because of the reaction he was getting, even if I understand how his prickly posts inspire prickly responses.
@JoeBlogs Agreed! Sony has an amazing history of success in the video game industry, and one that is well-deserved.
Still really curious if Sony will stick the next-gen transition right away.
@Netret0120 Just wait for the Facebook Console that plugs directly into your brain and is mandatory xD
@GamingFan4Lyf yea the ps2 being the cheapest dvd player at the time AND and Playstation will never be touched lol
I remember so much mainstream press back in the day covering the sales of the Wii and PS2, it feels like these sales numbers have snuck up on us. On the other hand, it’s been out nearly 6 years with arguably the best selection of games of all current home consoles, so not that surprising really!
@Knuckles-Fajita you do like to spread your negative goo around the place.
well done Sony truly deserved.
@Nyne11Tyme if that was true the software sales would have been lower
@Ralizah Why are going on about this.
@AJexa While it sells your personal data.
@Knuckles-Fajita To be fair it's not a good comparison. Handheld units are decidedly cheaper and therefore far far more accessible.
So they've rightly been separated. Ok, it's not sold as many, but if you were to chalk it up in value, rather than volume then it would destroy those consoles. And ultimately, success in regards to business is measured on the profit margin.
Right, can we please stop discussing whether handhelds are consoles or whatever and stay on topic. This comments section has gone totally off the rails.
The GameCube has a handle, but is not a handheld. Mind = blown.
@GravyThief I think there were those who thought the Wii was going to beat the PS2 sales figure but then the sales fell flat when people realised there were better things to do than stand on a pair of scales and they weren't getting any thinner.
Personally, I've always thought of gaming as something to unwind with after I'd done some proper exercise.
@David187 if what was true? All i said was the 3 best selling all time are playstations and that ps2 will probably never be touched because it was an unbeatable combo of cheap media player and video game player all in one. Not sure what software salez you are referring too
@Jay767 that 10 Bil contract with Pentagon says otherwise. They have Xbox because they want to
Well it is the best console of this generation it started good and ended good with amazing games like God of War and more to come unlike Nintendo and Microsoft that fail and then later try to fix the damage, so I'm not surprised they have always been the number one when it comes to Home consoles
@FullbringIchigo It's hard to say if PS5 will come anywhere near those numbers. Microsoft and Stadia are trying to make subscription based and non-console based gaming a thing, so to some, the console itself won't be a factor in a few months/years. PS4 took advantage of XB1's abassmal launch and ran away with the generation. I doubt it'll reach the PS2 numbers since a) PS2 was the cheapest DVD player around back in the day and b) the PS4s in homes now will likely be re-sold as used when the PS5 launches (no more 'fresh' PS4 sales for Sony). However, if the rumor of a $150 PS4 is true, this may cause a spike this holiday season to get that number pretty close.
Sources:
$150 PS4 - https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/10/rumour_ps4_will_be_less_than_usd150_this_black_friday
@playstation1995 The King Never Left Playstation Has Been King Since Day One
@Nyne11Tyme no I was saying that the software sold was great still so even though it was a great DVD player as well it still sold a shed load of games I agree with you.
Oh gotcha! Lol. Yea nothing else had a chance that gen
@Areus. Damn right dog.since day one.word up son
@Foxy-Goddess-Scotchy Some people just love being negative. Whether it's just wired in their personality, or simply just looking for attention.
@AlexSora89 How do you figure?
@Lobbo95 The most vocal ones( goes for anyone regardless of console you play on) are always party poopers.
I bet Nintendo regretted backing out of that deal with Sony, all those years ago.
@GKO900 Were you asleep during the last generation? Sony made massive mistakes, and thus did not finish at #1.
"Handheld" is an adjective. It's a handheld gaming console. Both types are consoles, just one is often shortened to "console", whilst the other is shortened to "handheld". We done here?
@EVIL-C Sure but it's not like they
fail they just had a rocky start but then later beat Xbox at the end and had one of the best libraries of the generation
@AdamNovice You believe that oranges are not fruits. A handheld console is still a console. A citrus fruit is still a fruit 🤦♂️
@wiiware You also believe that bananas are not fruit. A handheld console is still a console. A dry fruit is still a fruit. 🤦♂️
@RainbowGazelle Someone with common sense? 😮
@Areus PlayStation never loses.
DS, 3DS and Wii: Excuse me?
@GKO900 Except for the PS3. The Wii won.
@lightningalex1 You do know you could have replied to all of in one comment instead of doing 4 separate posts?
Also Game Boy and DS are handhelds, not consoles due to been sold to different markets. You wouldn't compare a Game Boy to an iphone, yes they both play games but again are for different markets.
@thefirst An iPhone is not a console (a dedicated gaming device). Handheld consoles like the DS are consoles. Besides, mobile games are garbage.
@AdamNovice So, bananas are not fruit? A handheld console is a dedicated gaming device aka a console. You are obviously not a gamer since you don’t even know what a console is. 🤦♂️😂😂😂😂😂😂 You don’t even know what a fruit is.
I am laughing at all of the idiots who don’t know what a console is. I bet if I showed them a banana, they would think that it is meat. 😂😂😂
@lightningalex1 I've been gaming since 91 so I don't have to justify myself to you, just because you like to be pedantic.
@AdamNovice You just can’t admit to being wrong. If you have been a gamer for that long then you should know what a console is. Unless, you mean gaming since turning 91, which is more likely.
@lightningalex1 You make it sound like YOUR opinion is a fact when it isn't. You have a different defination on what a console is to me. Seems like you can't handle other people's opinion, which is quite telling.
@AdamNovice Seems like you can’t handle the truth. I am not giving an opinion, I am just stating the obvious. Yet you can’t handle that, which is very telling. By the way, you should learn English better. You don’t even know how to spell. 🤦♂️😂😂😂😂
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