Current-gen video game console unit sales worldwide 2017-2023
Nintendo Switch was the best-selling video game console worldwide in 2022, selling over 19 million units across the globe. One of the latest entrants to the market, the Sony PlayStation 5, sold around 13.9 million units in 2022. In 2023, PlayStation 5 overtook the Switch as the most-selling current-gen game console globally with around 21.8 million unit sales.
The modern-day console wars
While the term “console wars” was originally coined to describe the rivalry between Sega and Nintendo in the video game market during the 1980s and 1990s, the modern usage refers to the battle for supremacy between the PlayStation and Xbox brands. The most recent battle between these console giants has been fought out between their eight-generation consoles, the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. However, while PlayStation 4 sales in Europe reached more than 45 million units alone, Microsoft’s global Xbox One Sales are yet to reach 60 million units worldwide. This duel has also turned into a three-way battle thanks to the enormous success of Nintendo’s hybrid video game console, the Nintendo Switch. Despite being released over three years later than its rivals, Switch global sales have already reached over 130 million units worldwide, with over a third of the regional console sales occurring in North America.
The future of console gaming
This fight for supremacy shows no signs of slowing down with the next battle of the console wars upon the horizon. Following years of speculation, both Sony and Microsoft released their next-generation consoles in the lead up to the 2020 holiday season as PlayStation 5 and Xbox S respectively. Sony continues to have the upper hand, as sales of its PlayStation 5 hit over 38 million units as of 2022. In comparison, estimates have Microsoft’s Xbox X/S Series sales at around 21 million units as of April 2023.
