The PlayStation 4 generation of consoles was extremely successful. Its numbers were only overshadowed by one other platform: Sony's own PlayStation 2. Now a new generation of consoles has arrived and Sony's striving to outperform the PlayStation 4 with the PlayStation 5. Six months in, with the PS5 still heavily limited by manufacturing limitations, Sony has proven successful. Not only has the PS5 outsold the PS4 over the same time period, but it expects to continue outpacing the previous generation over the coming year.
According to reporting from VGC, the PS5 has now shipped 7.8 million consoles through March 31. Over the same time period, the PS4 shipped 7.6 million consoles. That's a slight difference, but the PS5 still comes ahead by just 200,000 consoles or just under 3% more. It may not be a particularly striking number, but just the idea that the PS5 is already outperforming the PS4 given what's now known about the PS4's long-term success is worth acknowledging.
Further, in a quarterly earnings call from Sony Wednesday morning, CFO Hiroki Totoki has even more good news to share. Totoki explains that Sony is currently planning to outpace the PS4's second-year numbers, as well. That number for the PS4's second year is 14.8 million consoles, to give an idea of just how big of a task Sony has before it.
Totoki does also rein in expectations somewhat, as well. Totoki says that while it believes Sony could sell more PS5s than PS4s in the console's second year, it may not be able to. Totoki specifically mentions the ongoing global shortage of semiconductors, a key component of PS5 manufacturing that is preventing Sony from increasing its output capacity. While Sony is "doing its best" to get the components it needs to match the PS4's 14.8 million Totoki does not go so far as guaranteeing it.
Regardless of whether Sony is able to meet its goal of overtaking the PS4 through the PS5's second year, the way Sony is talking about the situation is especially intriguing. Sony's talking as if, if it had the means of producing more PS5s, that outselling the PS4 wouldn't even be a question. The nonchalance with which Sony is saying the PS5 is on the path to being one of its most successful consoles ever is striking.
The reality of the situation, however, is that the PS5 is very much limited by production. There are millions of people across the world who want a PS5 but are unable due to none being on store shelves. Further, the unsaid message is that this limited availability could last another year. Total sales don't mean much to someone who still can't get their PS5.
The PlayStation 5 is available now in limited supply.