Sony PS4 Sales Projections

With a new console set to release in less than two months, Sony has some high hopes for what remains of their fiscal year 2013. For as much as the Vita has struggled, the looming launch of the PS4 has the potential to right the ship.

We know that the PS4 is selling out across the globe, with most launch-day pre-orders already gone, but, at the same time, we still don't know how well the console will sell overall. Sony, however, is projecting big numbers for the PS4 in the coming months — about 5 million units when FY 2013 is all said and done.

At their Tokyo Game Show 2013 press conference, Sony's Andrew House broke the news, saying his company is aiming to sell 5 million PlayStation 4 units by the end of March. At first it seemed like Sony was hoping to hit that mark by the end of this year, but Sony boss Shuhei Yoshida clarified that House meant the fiscal year for Sony not the actual year.

That tally makes sense, since the PS4 will be out in North America, Europe, and Japan by then. It's a staggered launch for the console, with NA getting the PS4 first on Nov. 15th, followed by Europe on Nov. 29th, and finally Japan on February 22nd. By then, the console will be available in most major markets, and Sony will have presumably done all of their launch-day sales.

Sony PS4 Release Plans Gamescom

Even though these are some pretty lofty aspirations, at this point they are just that. Sony obviously has access to numbers we don't, but sales projections don't always coincide with actual sales. We've seen several console/handheld launches over the past year or so, and many of them have failed to hit expectations.

That isn't to say that the PS4 is destined to fail, pre-order numbers and early gamer reception suggests quite the opposite. But when it comes time for cash to change hands, there's no way of knowing what the turnout might be.

For example, heading into the launch of the PS3, Sony expected to sell about 6 million units by the end of their fiscal year, but they only moved a little more than half of that (3.68 million). Of course, the PS3 was an expensive proposition back in 2006 — even more than the PS4 is now — and the Xbox 360 had a year head start.

Things are different now — the PS4 has the head start and the better price point. The only question is whether or not those advantages will translate into big time sales.

Do you think the PS4 will hit 5 million total units sold by the end of March 2014? Will you be one of the 5 million?

The PS4 releases November 15, 2013 in North America, November 29th in Europe, and February 22, 2014 in Japan.