Summary
According to a new financial report, thePlayStation 5is estimated to be outselling Xbox consoles almost three to one. Both thePlayStation 5and Xbox Series X/S systems were released in the winter of 2020, though their launches were initially hindered by supply and shipping issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. As these issues were resolved over the next few years, both systems started to build up their customer base.
These past years have been particularly kind to Sony, as the PlayStation 5 has consistently ranked highly on global sales charts since its release. Over 61 million PS5 consoles have been sold as of August 2024, though it should be noted that these sales saw a 27% drop that month. Meanwhile,Microsoft’s July 2024 fiscal reportsindicated that Xbox sales are declining by an even greater amount, even as its software is seeing a boost due to the popularity of Xbox Game Pass and certain titles going multiplatform.
A recent video report from The Wall Street Journal covered thecurrent state of the Xbox gaming brand, including its performance when compared to the PlayStation 5. Sony’s console has sold roughly 61.7 million units since launch, while the market intelligence firm Aldora Intelligence estimates that Microsoft’s Xbox offerings have only sold around 28.3 million units.TweakTowncalculated these results and concluded that the PS5 is currently outselling the Xbox Series X/S by 33.4 million units, or roughly a 3:1 ratio. It’s worth noting, however, that Microsoft hasn’t officially disclosed the exact number of Xbox consoles sold.
PS5 is Outselling Xbox Consoles 3 to 1
Still, these estimated numbers paint a troubling picture for Microsoft’s gaming hardware, which may explain why Xbox seems to be shifting its focus toward its more lucrative software and Xbox Game Pass service. Last year,Microsoft went as far as to statethat it had “lost the console wars” against Sony and Nintendo in a filing related to its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a move that has also bolstered Xbox’s software sales since it was finalized back in October 2023.
Meanwhile, Sony’s 2024 showings have been a roller coaster over the past few months, with the company drawing controversy over theannouncement of the PlayStation 5 Proand the recent leak of aHorizon: Zero Dawnremaster that some feel is unnecessary. This doesn’t appear to be slowing down the PlayStation 5’s apparent lead over the Xbox Series X/S, and the upgraded PS5 Pro will likely continue this trend when it hits stores on June 21, 2025.
PlayStation 5
Sony’s PlayStation 5 is part of the ninth console generation and debuted with a launch lineup that included Demon’s Souls and Astro’s Playroom. The console comes with a Blu-ray disc, although a digital-only edition is also available for a cheaper price.
