Sony CEO Jim Ryan is feeling bullish about PS5 sales now that the COVID-induced supply slump is over, and the plucky little box can actually be found on store shelves. Already the best-selling console for months, the Sony bigwig says he expects the PS5 to breach 108 million units sold over the course of its lifetime.
Considering Sony needs to sell an additional 70 million PS5s in order to make that happen, that's some pretty tough talk. Recent numbers suggest the firm is likely sitting above 40 million currently, with consoles selling like hotcakes in key markets now that supply has increased.
Ryan, in a recent games business briefing webcast and ensuing Q&A (thanks, TweakTown), explained how he sees the company achieving this bold estimate, stating:
"The 70 million, I think, is the existing PlayStation 4 user base, and while we would hope to convert a large number of those people, we will definitely target and definitely be successful in bringing large numbers of gamers who did not own a PlayStation 4, and in many instances, who have never owned a PlayStation at all."
What do you think of Mr Ryan's numbers, and should we read into the 108 part, specifically? Create a surplus in the comments section below.
[source tweaktown.com]
Comments 56
Uhhhhh yeah. Who doesn’t expect the PS5 to sale over 100m? They’ve only done it 3/4 times with the one time being because of a disastrous start to the gen.
Lmfao even if likely, that's a cringe worthy projection after the generic live service cgi trailer fest they just showed after roughly two years of silence. Not to mention they are giving a projection on sales without having a stated software road map to drive those sales.
Reception and Sony sentiment is the lowest it's been in years. Maybe hold off on more tone deaf corporate hubris, until that blows over.
GL with your late to the cash grab gamble fad endeavor Sony 🤘
@KundaliniRising333 Sony have Final Fantasy 16 and spider man 2 the ps5 will sell sh*t ton this year.
Playstation is the console to have right now and if they continue with the momentum they currently have then they will easily reach that figure. Especially when they get some more heavy hitters out and they get a few decent live service games that are hits, plus some great third party exclusives and a mid gen pro console. That's going to be hard to stop.
@SirMarshmallow If Sony didn't release the PlayStation 3 over a year after the 360 and didn't overprice it then I'm sure they would of reached over 100 million that gen. The late start alone was the reason xbox had a chance.
@KundaliniRising333 Let's be real: one bad showcase doesn't erase decades of brand awareness and strong sales momentum.
PS4 sold well for years with little in the way of worthwhile exclusive software to its name. Even Sony was confused by how well it was doing at first.
To earn those numbers they have to prove they have more up their sleeve than what they showed last week.
@UltimateOtaku91
The PS3 wasn't overpriced - it was expensive.
As great as the PlayStation 5 is, it deserves to surpass the PS4.
So he expects the PS5 overall to sell less than the PS4? Not sure that's how I would choose to flex but whatever what do I know 🤷
Whenever Nintendo releases their next device that will cut into their sales again like the switch did.
@Ralizah so true ! Some of these people act like it hasent rained console exclusives for ps5 since launch all because of a show that dident have games far along to show. Because we all know how that turns out don't we? Show a rush concept that looks awful the last halo any one remeber that how that went down? Microsoft showed a unpolished game and the world hated it before it even came out. Also to your 2nd part also true the ps4 only had knack and kill zone as it's only exclusives for the longest after launch. These dramatic people kill me over this .. One presentation were it dident have nothing to show but cgi lol because the games were just now a concept so what you got where teasers. Please some of you people please don't go to a strip club because that's all your going to get their too lol.
@UltimateOtaku91 it was the Cell processor that gave Xbox the advantage and Cross game chat and achievements to start. Xbox 360 was Xbox’s best console and PS3 minus some really good games was Sony’s worse. Sony is seeing that no matter how popular they are console’s just don’t crack past this number and they will want those games on more platforms. PC is a must going forward and the dollars in console’s continues to decline gen over gen for all 3 console makers. Mobile is the cash cow. I don’t like the number 108 hope they sell 110 haha
@4kgk2 Spider Man 2 alone will sell 15 or more million copies. But those live service games were looking trash. They need to make sure those get some love if that is their direction. Bungie is good and all but not sure they can save what was shown.
Cool. I hope Sony is able to achieve its goal.
@Green-Bandit we got to see actual gameplay of theses Sony live service games before we can fully judge them. I think helldivers 2 look pretty good with its actual gameplay.
@Lexluther23 Rained? Lol cross gen games CARRIED this generation. Last real ps5 exclusive and not an upscaled PS4 game was ratchet.
@KundaliniRising333 gotta love some internet negativity.
@Shad361 it doesn't matter if they're cross generation titles. They still sell by far best on Ps5 for a reason. Whether Ragnarok or Horizon were exclusive on Ps5, they were still available on it and big system sellers for a lot of people who are into them. The average gamer couldn't care less as long as they get to enjoy a game on their console of choice, hence the success of ps5.
Speaking of Suikoden, how about a release date Konami?
@Shad361 Whatever device Nintendo releases next wouldn't even be in the same market. Unless Nintendo plans to release an actual next gen home console on the same power level as a PS5, and not another glorified tablet.
@4kgk2 eh..i mean it’s ok looking ish. Nothing jumped off the screen and told me i need to play them. However if tho we are hearing less than good things about last of multiplayer, that is my most wanted PS5 game that is known. I was disappointed not to see or hear more about it at the show. But glad they are taking their time.
@Green-Bandit yeah last of us factions 2 definitely my most hype Sony live service game. I rather see naughty dog take they’re time to make such factions 2 is amazing then rush it out and end up like redfall or halo infinite.
@4kgk2 They will take more time on it and it’s the right thing to do, i was still bummed out not seeing something of it. But i understand as it’s not in a good enough state to show. But i am still really excited for it. Sony will be just fine, they still showed some good stuff for most fans, but for me i was left not seeing much i want to play. But we had a good year last year so maybe this is their down year while they cook on those unannounced games more. 2024 should show more and of course as a multi console owner i am looking forward to seeing the MS show. But Diablo 4 will have all my time this summer and more for years to come. I might get SF6 and FF16 at some point to give me a small break from D4.
This story is being misreported, he didn’t bring up some 108m. He was asked by an investor if he was confident the PS5 would shift another 70m units and he said yes.
The PS5 is currently trending much higher than 108m, more like 130m.
@KundaliniRising333
Some of you guys really live in an alternate reality. The vast majority of consumers are not angry that a Sony showcase didn’t layout a long term roadmap for single player games, just the normal angry 2% that frequent enthusiast websites daily.
Back in the realm of the real the PS5 is on track to sell 25M+ units in 2023 and be the best ever year for a PlayStation device.
there's a lot of work left to be done to reach that milestone. you can start with a slim model and price drop already...
@Porco I beg to differ but the current hardware revision is just great..silent efficient and reliable.
I think it will sells better than ps4 life time sales, especially if there's cheaper slim and mini version down the road.
I expect Sony will sell around that number of PS5's. But I have a PS4 Pro with about 100 AAA games I've yet to finish. So unless Sony releases banger after banger for the rest of the PS5 generation, sales will taper off over the next few years.
@AverageGamer
The original switch already cut into the PS4’s sales,so this is false
@naruball PS5 is selling pretty much entirely off the back of PS4 and Hype.
Wouldn't that put it below the ps4 total sales? I thought they wanted to beat the ps4? Wierd quote from Jim
@Texan_Survivor I don’t think it has anything to do with the PS5 being a weaker console. We’re heading into an era where cloud gaming is gonna take up much of the casual space. Only the core gamers are going to still see interest in owning local hardware. Also I don’t see this generation lasting as long as the PS4. I mean we’re already hearing talks of a PS5 Pro.
@Texan_Survivor it’s literally an investor asking if they expected the PS5 to sell another 70m units. He said yes, and added in some business speak about converting PS4 players but also being confident about attracting new players.
The 108m number has no specific value, it’s just 38m(shipped to March 2022) + 70m(arbitrary number chosen by the questioner)
Well they've sold 40 million off the back of almost no games made specifically for it, so another 70 million with the likes of Spider-Man and Wolverine, plus whatever else they have up their sleeves should be doable
I am curious to see what Jim Ryan will do to hit that number now he has used all of Shawn Layden/Jack Trenton's ideas. There is only so many times you can try to piggyback off of old IP. It's time to see what new IP like Wolverine or Rise of Ronin can do, or What Naughty Dog or Sony Bend are doing next for SP.
Selling 100m consoles for Sony isn't a given. The last 2 CEO's worked really hard and supportted the development and growth of some amazing IP to get that number.
The next Nintendo product could also eat into sales as that will be a more powerful JRPG machine to turn heads.
This is my first Dony home console, tho I do have a Vita….
@Jamesblob LOL the Wii U was literally the worst selling console Nintendo made besides the virtual boy.
And yet the switch outsold PS4 despite a 4 year headstart…which is actually wild, and it still trades blows with PS5. Facts hurt I guess.
@Jamesblob I’m mentioning Nintendo because if you actually paid attention last time, once they released the Switch that started to eat into the PS4’s sales. And I expect it to happen again to PS5 with the next Nintendo device.
Yeah, Im sure they will sell that many Sony makes pretty great systems, and the 5 is the best running but the PS4 pro is all around better than the 5 except the sometimes faster load times. But they have to do something about Jim and Herman they are woke pushers and out of touch with the playstations base customers, and that showcase proved it. Everytime they do something you just have to say dont expect anything good or get your hopes up, a new low everytime under Jim Ryan, and Herman and some they hired like Nike girl dont know anything about the gamers. And playstation plus premium is basically just game trials, nice but where are all the great ps1, ps2, and psp games classics have been mainly just what was already on Now and the PS3 and Vita storefront they made harder to buy from for your older systems we still use when the backlog of new games falls off. Or they make it fall off with crap or more multiplayer live service stuff that needs tons of players, getting five people together takes a while, let alone waiting for over 20, and then burning up your bandwith for the month. Playstation lost its roots, its basically an Xbox wannabe, thats not Xbox because I cant stand microsoft. But might have to just go pc and steam at some point if they dont figure it out this generation.
@Darylb88 I agree Jim Ryan and Herman and the people they have hired recently in the past 4 yrs have sunk playstation low and on the wrong track. Like a woke company saying I dont want your money anymore, we are only making games for this crowd now, and they are basically Xbox guys/gals that will never switch over and have gamepass and hate anything playstation.
@Jamesblob Well you can say hey they are getting killed by nintendo nowadays because of nintendos game library they have now, tons of games that made the Playstation. And kind of ironic its from their falling out that made Playstation in the first place. And that Sony almost killed them off in every market, but now nintendo came roaring back with a lesser system that can do both, minus the sucky controllers. Whats wrong bringing in other consoles for comparision or facts, or opinions even.
@Shad361
The Switch launched in March 2017, that quarter the PS4 shipped 2.9M which is its best ever quarter 1. The next Quarter the PS4 shipped 3.3M which is its second best Q2. The next quarter it shipped 4.2m which is its best ever Q3 and in Q4 it shipped 9M, it’s second best Q4.
The year of 2017 was 19.4m, it’s second best year, only 100k behind 2016 but 1.8m ahead of 2015 and 2.7M ahead of 2014. In 2018 it would be its 3rd strongest year, again better than 2014 and 2015.
There is no evidence that the release of the Switch had any significant effect on PS4 sales.
The data also shows that the strongest sales period for the PS4 was Quarters 11 - 20. We’re currently in sales quarter 11 for the PS5.
@Green-Bandit God I hope mobile never takes over console, its one thing to play a trash mobile game on break at work or on a ride. But I dont want it to consume the market like live service with Jim and Herman has pushed out the Japan market that started gaming here on consoles.
Selling tons and the bad reception to the showcase are really unrelated. The thing is the big first party games don't really sell all that well compared to the total install base. That's not what drives most consumers to buy a console. The people that do care about those things mostly already bought PS5s. They already have us locked. It's the "everybody else" they want to pull in now, and those people don't really care about showcases or first party games. They just want a box to play Fortnite, Fifa, Cod, and/or GTA on. And they'll buy whatever is the hyped one they're familiar with is, which, is also Sony by default. So all they're interested in at this point is trying to rope in other audiences, thus the live service push pulling mobile gamer types and the like it. They don't actually need to cater to the "core" right now for sales growth, because they already own the "core."
@UltimateOtaku91 But they dont release the games like they used to, and now they have a majority of western studios and killed off the Japan studio. They have come and basically told the huge RPG base that made Sony what it is, ok go play the switch, we used to have a huge variety of generes now we just compete with Microsoft for the live service looter shooter and hack n slash that need player count high to be any fun and progress the game, which usually die off fast, unless its the new fortnight
Sony have a lot of work to do to reach those figures. Imo at the moment, the only thing PS5 has going for it is backwards compatibility.
@ChrisDeku Switch had a slow start at first. Then it was regularly beating PS4 at npd later on. It’s going to be worse this time because the switch was already a success coming off a high instead of low.
@Shad361 The PS4 sales dropped at the normal rate for end of life, no evidence the Switch had any effect. The Switch sales increased because of the lockdown and the exposure relating to it, that was the main driver of its later sales, not that it started slower.
Nintendo consoles actually don’t do well generally as follow ups to successful hardware. Their most successful devices are all ones that had something new as a major gimmick. Successive hardware that was similar, or used similar branding, always did worse.
NES(61.91m) -> SNES(49.1M)
Gameboy(118.69m) -> Gameboy Advance(81.51m)
DS(154.02m) -> 3DS(75.94m)
Wii(101.63m) -> WiiU(13.56m)
@ChrisDeku there were countless factors to those things, you can’t just look at sales and ignore everything else.
-The SNES competed with the genesis
N64 Competed with PS1
-3DS was expensive and had a mid gimmick(3D has never caught on)
If Nintendo makes a Switch 2 that is at least decent power wise it’s going to be a smash hit instantly. Especially if it can play games like Call of Duty and the likes.
@Shad361 Nintendo products don’t occupy a similar space to other game consoles. They are more like toys, they sell a lot of copies to families, parents and grandparents buying for children etc. If the next hardware isn’t unique or original in some way and just a re-hash of the switch but more powerful then I’d not be confident at all on it’s massive popularity.
@Paultall as far as money and players go they already took over console a long time ago. But different games and console isn’t going away. But you are seeing Sony and Microsoft try and make games for mobile as that dwarves consoles in money if you get a decent game there. I don’t play mobile, and love consoles, but I understand the business side of it.
@Porco tbh 380 pounds for the newest PlayStation is quite alright price, they can't really get cheaper than that for the best console out there without the disc..
@neon-xxiv there already games not available on PS4, Final Fantasy 16 which is out in a minute is one of them, mate you missing out big time
@ReNik it can and it will. roughly 3 years after ps3 released, there was a ps3 slim and a price drop. the same chain events occured with the ps4. there are cheaper and more efficient components to bring the cost down already. even if there is no optical drive with the ps5 slim, there will likely be an (optional) add-on drive for those who want it. i expect the MSRP for the console+external drive to be $100 cheaper than the current price. it can't come here soon enough... the current model is hideous in its footprint, colour and bulk.
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