Sony has released its PlayStation 5 sales data alongside the financial results for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2024. The report reveals that total sales of the PS5 have reached 77.8 million units. However, while hardware sales are declining, there is an upswing in software revenue.
PS5 Faces Sales Challenges According to the latest figures, Sony shipped 2.8 million PS5 units during the last quarter. This marks a notable decline compared to the 4.5 million units sold in the same period the previous year. In total, 18.5 million PS5 units were sold throughout the entire fiscal year of 2024, a figure that trails behind the 20.8 million units sold in 2023. Looking ahead, Sony’s projections for the 2025 fiscal year suggest a similar trend, with hardware sales expected to decrease once again.
On a more positive note, the software sector is experiencing growth. Game sales are anticipated to rise, driven by first-party titles like Ghost of Yotei. Software sales have been instrumental in offsetting the losses in hardware revenue this year.
Software Revenue Balances Hardware Decline Sales of PS4 and PS5 games increased from 286.4 million in 2023 to 303.3 million in 2024. This growth is predominantly driven by third-party game sales. However, sales of first-party games have decreased from 39.7 million to 28.9 million year-over-year. The digital transition continues, with the rate of digital downloads in full game sales rising from 70% to 76%, highlighting a gradual decline in demand for physical copies.
Meanwhile, there is a notable increase in active users on the PlayStation Network. The number of monthly active users has risen from 118 million in the previous year to 124 million.
For the fiscal year 2025, Sony anticipates an 8% decline in sales, attributed to both exchange rate fluctuations and a drop in hardware sales. Nevertheless, there is an expectation of a 16% rise in operational revenues, primarily driven by software sales. While the PS5’s future trajectory remains uncertain, the current trend indicates that Sony will continue to prioritize software and service revenues over hardware. However, the release of major titles like Grand Theft Auto VI could potentially rejuvenate the console’s sales momentum.
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