The PlayStation 5 is now Sony's fastest selling console ever in the UK.
That's according to GfK (thanks, GamesIndustry), the organisation that tracks game industry sales data in the country. It states that PS5 reached 1 million units sold in 39 weeks, three weeks faster than the previous record holder, PS4. The UK has always been a strong market for Sony's systems, and PS5 is looking like another runaway success.
This is all despite the PS5 stock shortages that have held back supply since launch in November of last year. The console has returned to retail in fits and starts, with fresh stock appearing sporadically in various UK stores. It seems that demand remains incredibly high; whenever PS5s appear for purchase, they vanish from the shelves incredibly quickly.
GfK says the 1 million sales milestone was reached in August, and that the total UK sales for PS5 consoles currently sits at just under 1.4 million.
This new data tracks with the global tally. Back in July, Sony announced the PS5 had reached 10 million sales, again the fastest PlayStation console to do so.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 70
Even with supply issues. Wonder how many are sat in scalpers garages?
Sooo 1 million in 9 months and then 0.4 mil in just another 2? Sounds like supply is picking up then?
bUt wHaT aBoUt ThE ScAlPeRs!
I still say FOMO likely contributed a lot in regards to how fast this thing sold.
Not surprised. Already a year ago I was saying it would break records. 3 weeks faster than PS4 is still amazing though.
Nowadays, I see the supply shortages less as a hindrance and more like a tailwind.
If I've learned anything during the last 18 months, (and this includes the recent petrol situation in the UK) it's that whenever something is widely reported as being in short supply, demand immediately goes up.
@PaperAlien
The Scalpers, beings from a dying planet. Their destination: the Earth. Their purpose: to make it their world.
@Stocksy Zero, why would scalpers hold on to consoles they can sell now 😂
Very impressive.
I’ve heard it’s not so hard to pick up a PS5 these days now as most people will of bought one themselves and others bought from scalpers, eventually the demand will die down once people have managed to get one. But with Christmas soon upon us I expect it’ll go back to like it was when it first released.
@get2sammyb Off topic question but are you guys going to be covering Chernobylite, Insurgency: Sandstorm and Hell Let Loose anytime soon? All three games will be released by next week, in fact Chernobylite has released today and Insurgency: Sandstorm releases tomorrow and there has been no mention of them on here lately.
@Jireland92 I was thinking the same. Lack of stock means people buy sooner than they normally would do. Like people buying fuel in the UK now. The perceived lack of it is making people buy sooner than they normally would.
@Atreus97 Nintendo figured that out long ago.
We're all slaves to fomo. Meanwhile, my ps5 hasn't been turned on in nearly two weeks. Hopefully next month's plus will change that.
Wow. I'm even more impressed by the 400,000 consoles sold the last 6 weeks in UK alone. That is crazy growth in sales.
Can we finally say PlayStation is dominating in uk now and stop acting like Xbox stand a chance of winning or catching up to PlayStation there.
@PaperAlien aren't you getting this? The scalpers are also buying up all the physical games 🙈. They especially like to buy 1st party and 3rd party games. Those pesky....ooooooooohhhh.....<shakes fists>
@Jacko11 But they like to keep them in garages and warehouses and stare at them.
“All bought by scalpers”
Pepega
@4kgk2 And the gap is still in its infancy. It's going to grow more.
The pandemic definitely helped. I just don't want Sony to get over confident about this success again. They tend to be less generous to consumers the more comfortable they feel.
If the PS5 wasn't selling well maybe they'd not be in such of a hurry to make people pay for upgrades
Everyone I know that wanted one, got one a long time ago.
@DomGC That a lot of people are buffoons and just follow what everyone else is doing?
I am waiting until I can get to a petrol station without a queue. I'll walk or cycle around until then to save the fuel I have. I see it as an idiot enforced fitness regime.
@DomGC
It's not that basic though, is it?
Usually if product A is out of stock, product B sells more as the consumer has options.
In this case, product A, B and C are out of stock. The consumer has very limited options.
So stock issues are more a "unprecedented demand that can't be met until new production facilities are built" issue rather than a shortage as most people understand it. Good problem to have!
Can happily say I'm one of the lucky ones to own a playstation 5, and so far loving it and already looking forward to next year's line up
And.... 900,000 of those sales were scalpers
@UltimateOtaku91 I was very lucky to get mine on release day in the UK and I love it
@uptownsoul Xbox dudes just doesn’t buy games like that it sad to admit.
Good for it. The SSD and DualSense have saved it from the diminishing return curse of the other "upgrades" that came with the number change, and had its Remote Play functionality not joined Sony's "What's a Vita" club, I could be saving up for a unit - or even already looking to spend on one - as we speak. But it's a neat console regardless, and whatever exclusives stay on it by the time of my retirement might well warrant its place in my abode in that distant future... it'll probably be easier to find by then anyway.😅
Think it's funny that new PS4 Pros are selling for more than the PS5 disc version RRP on eBay - supply and demand in action!
As for the scalpers, I can wait for a 5 and will l do so until I can buy one from a reputable retailer for the RRP, not from some scalper with a garage full of unsold stock.
@lolwhatno I would like competition for Sony but we can’t make Microsoft compete with Sony if they don’t want to.
@4kgk2 why is Xbox on your brain 24/7? You don't give the impression you believe PlayStation's has no competition from Xbox...you give the impression you've buyers remorse. Seriously, get both and be happy.
Impressive indeed, still don’t have one myself yet. Someday though
Playing games with 60 fps and super fast loading time on ps5 are nice, especially ubisoft 60 fps patched games and genshin impact. I hope the stock situations improve so everyone can buy ps5 😃
@sanderson72 what? Why would anyone pay more for a PS4 pro when PS5 is backward compatible?
@Bleachedsmiles I don’t have buyers remorse the ps5 is the best console I purchase in year’s. I haven’t own a Xbox since 360 I feel there’s no reason for me to own one which is bad I’m not the only person who feel this way.
Went into my local GAME store whilst passing and asked if they had any PS5's in and to my surprise they said they were due 2 digital editions in the next day. The following day I popped in and bought one. I guess I just got real lucky.
That's pretty crazy, imagine if there were no stock shortages I think it might have done it in 6 months ish. I was lucky to get mine day one, I think if I didn't I would be so frustrated by now trying to get one, but at least stock does appear to be getting better although they do sell out pretty much straight away. Did get the series s just over a month ago too and honestly haven't really played much of it only a few games, although I do log in everyday just to do the rewards stuff managed to get 2 months of gamepass free already in about 7 weeks. Don't see myself having to ever pay for it as I am good up to march now. Now just need to wait for new Forza
@4kgk2 then why does Xbox live in your mind rent free? Just enjoy your playstation.
@Bleachedsmiles I am literally snowed under with games on ps5. All the new games plus 4,500 BC games that all run either better or completely without performance issues from ps4/pro. My cup runeth over. Why would having another console be better? My backlog is so huge I can't imagine doubling it up positive thing. Ps5 is a complete meal.
@Bleachedsmiles I want Xbox to do better that why I will keep voicing my opinions on the current state of Xbox until Microsoft make the changes to make it better. If you don’t like it oh well.
For some reason people tend to forget that there are more gamers now than there have ever been. It only makes sense that consoles keep selling better at every launch (as long as there are no shortages).
Very nice. Best console I have ever bought.
Choosing to Rent a game on a Console instead of buying it on my PC is not an issue anymore. Fluidity and graphics are top notch so far.
Hopefully they can make more so everyone looking for one can get one.
@4kgk2 sure you do 😉
@KayOL77 Are you constantly talking about Xbox on every playstation news story too?
@lolwhatno If Xbox isn't on your mind 24/7 you don't need both. Save your pennies for ps5 games.
It doesn't deserve to in my opinion. PS4 had a better line up in its first year.
@__jamiie Are you joking right now. I loved the ps4 but it’s first year was weak as hell compared to the ps5. The ps5 had a new spider man game at launch a remake to a beloved classic soul game two really good new ip in Returnal and Astro’s playroom and sackboy, ratchet and clank rift apart.
@4kgk2 The PS4 also got Miles Morales and Sackboy so I don't really count those. Astro's Playroom isn't really a new IP and is basically a tech demo. Ratchet and Clank is okay but nothing more than a fancy PS3 game. Demon Souls is literally a remade PS3 game and Returnal is a game that nobody will care about a year from now. This gen so far has been one of the dullest I can remember.
@__jamiie Thank God Sony didn't go and buy returnal Dev then with it being so forgettable 😂
@sentiententity Probably because the PS5 that the scalpers have are in excess of £700!
@Bleachedsmiles It's hard not to look at the strengths of the ps5 and think aloud. On forums 😂
@__jamiie I’m glad you the only person I see with this mindset about the ps5 most people I know would kill to have a ps5.
@__jamiie Also extra special mention needs to go to finding zero merit in a good year for ps5. 👍
No surprise, really. Demand is sky-high worldwide, so shipments are going to evaporate the moment they become available, whether they're sold in online stores or re-sold by private vendors.
Until this changes, PS5 sales numbers reflect nothing but Sony's current manufacturing capacity.
@4kgk2 I feel the same way about the PS5, personally. There's little reason to buy one if you're primarily looking at games that can't already be played on PS4.
@KayOL77 Yes because that's what I said isn't it? Zero merit. Oh no wait, I didn't. I actually said I felt that PS4 deserves that accolade rather than PS5.
Also, it's my opinion. Not a fact. You don't need to feel so offended.
@4kgk2 I'm not saying PS5 isn't popular. But I don't really see many reasons it deserves to be. What must have exclusives does it have??? If Sony had actually shifted away from PS4 it probably would be a must have purchase. As it stands though there are lots of people buying a PS5 for the sake of having a PS5. The same way that Apple sells millions of new iPhones every year just because it's shiny and new.
@__jamiie A lot of people don’t want to play strip down ps4 version’s of new exclusives I mean the daulsense a lone is a good enough reason to buy a ps5.
@Ralizah Yeah but once you start playing those games at 60fps there is no going back. You don't get pc players lamenting their new pc playing the games better than the old pc.
@Ralizah I platted god of war on ps5. Looks like a dream and I now can't go near 30fps games.
@Ralizah if you love the PS4 still and don't see a need to upgrade I definitely don't recommend playing any on ps5 at 60fps. It'll just sour the PS4 versions.
I got my ps5 last week from my local game shop nice to have a connection there although in the process of moving so not broken the seal yet
This mythical beast called "PS5". I've heard of it and its wonders. Yet, I've never seen it in the wild.
@Yomogi If you want I can send you a photo of it in its natural habitat. Standing next to a TV 😂
Would loved to have seen how quick it got to 1m if corona and stock shortages hadn’t happened…
@KayOL77 PC players aren't also expected to pay for access to online multiplayer, pay extra for the benefit of taking advantage of improved GPUs/processors, and have their entire library going back decades available on one platform. Almost universally, PC games take advantage of superior hardware automatically, or with the tiniest bit of tweaking in a settings menu, so it makes a lot more sense to me to upgrade my PC parts for a generalized upgrade to my gaming experience.
Anyway, being able to run a handful of already very polished first-party releases at 60fps isn't worth $500 + tax to me, at the end of the day. If and when I get a PS5, it'll be for compelling new games that don't already run well on my PS4.
@Ralizah
I agree in the sense that I find so annoying some people try to belittle other gamers for not owning everything (often meaning both PS and Xbox). There is only so much time in a day and budgets have a limit.
On the other hand I disagree on the idea some people pretend only PS5 exclusives make it worth it to own a PS5.
It’s always matter of point of view mind you. If someone has a PS4 pro it’s obviously a bit less tempting to upgrade but I feel that was their own choice to start with buying a pro instead of waiting for next gen. In my case and I’m sure many others I got a new TV that would be a crime to plug my old OG PS4 on. I think PS5 is a must have to run GT7 on it for instance. It doesn’t matter if there is a PS4 version (that one would be for my 1080p TV)
@Ralizah How many games (first party) are requiring extra money to play in upgraded form on ps5? The PS5 runs all 4,500 PS4 games. I don't imagine they will ignore PS1 and 2 games. I see it coming soon. PS3 is a bit more complex, I don't see that happening properly for a few years. I think the PS3 threw the simplicity of the whole process out the window. But the adoption of x86 probably means there won't be any move to change away from it. All coming gens will probably inherit the last gens now.
@Ralizah Also relatively, multiplayer on pc is usually a free for all for all such crazy behaviour. Including hacking, cheating, piracy to name a few. If I play multiplayer I want roughly a stable playing field. Ps plus always includes free games.
@__jamiie
This was PS4's first year line-up in a nutshell:
Not a terrible lineup, but not the best either. In my humble opinion, it was super weak and I think most people forget that. Most of these games didn't review all that well if memory serves, or at least not as well as PS5's first-year lineup, which includes 11 first party games at this point (that's a lot).
I respect it's your opinion, but I haven't heard anyone try to make the case PS4 had a better lineup out of the gate. PS4 really came into its stride a bit later in its lifecycle. Aggregate review scores, sales, sheer quantity of titles - any way you slice it PS5 gets the edge.
I'm pretty biased though. The Demons Souls game you disregarded as just a remake not worth consideration is worth more than that entire PS4 launch library, combined. And then you have Ratchet and Clank and Returnal waiting in the wings, which completely stomp on anything in that above list with prejudice (imo). And I could go on and on about Miles Morales, Sackboy, Ghosts of Tsushima... but I should cap it there.
TL;DR Version: Unless you really, really liked Infamous and Resogun, PS4 was weak out of the gate. Opinions.
@UnlimitedSevens Exactly. It's all just opinion.
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