Since its release in November 2020, the PlayStation 5 has established itself as one of the major consoles of its generation. Despite a difficult context marked by prolonged shortages, Sony’s console has enjoyed sustained commercial momentum, with a steady stream of significant sales milestones. This article looks back at its launch and the gradual evolution of sales through to the end of 2024.
A launch in difficult circumstances
The PlayStation 5 went on sale on November 12, 2020 in North America and Japan, then on November 19 in the rest of the world, including Europe. The timing of the launch was complicated, as it took place in the midst of a global health crisis. Demand immediately proved to be much greater than the available supply. Back in October 2020, Jim Ryan, President of Sony Interactive Entertainment, declared that in just twelve hours of pre-orders in the United States, the PS5 had recorded volumes equivalent to those achieved by the PS4 in twelve days.
On release, stock shortages were widespread. Despite these difficulties, Sony sold around 3.4 million consoles in the first four weeks after launch. By the end of December 2020, the milestone of 4.5 million units sold had been reached. This put the PS5 on a comparable footing to its predecessor, the PlayStation 4, but in a more challenging logistical context.
Sales trends from 2020 to 2025
On March 31, 2021, Sony announced that it had sold 7.8 million PS5s worldwide, surpassing the PS4’s score over an equivalent period. Three months later, in June 2021, the 10 million mark was passed. The following year confirmed this steady progression: by March 31, 2022, the manufacturer counted 19.3 million units distributed. At the beginning of 2023, with the gradual end of supply problems, Sony announced that it had exceeded 30 million consoles sold.
The year 2023 saw a series of significant milestones. In July, the figure of 40 million was announced, followed by 50 million in December of the same year. This momentum continues into 2024, with 59.3 million units sold by March 31. In the autumn, Sony announced that 65.5 million PS5s had been sold. In December 2024, the manufacturer reported that 75 million units were installed in homes worldwide. This trajectory put the console in a strong position against the competition, at a time when stock shortages had become a thing of the past.
With 75 million units sold by the end of 2024 and a total of 77.8 million by March 31, 2025, the PlayStation 5 confirms its place as one of the most popular consoles of its generation. Despite a launch disrupted by shortages, the machine has won over a wide audience thanks to its catalog, exclusives and technical performance. Steady sales growth reflects controlled commercial success and a capacity to maintain interest over the long term.
