Ahmed Sherif
Research expert covering IT services and gaming hardware
PlayStation - statistics & facts
From a bold leap into the gaming world to a legacy that has defined generations, the PlayStation story is an impressive journey through innovation and gaming entertainment. PlayStation is a Japanese video game brand produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a division of the Sony Corporation. Since the launch of the first PlayStation console in 1994, Sony has released a further four video game consoles. The latest addition to this lineup is the PlayStation 5 Pro, which enhances gaming performance and graphics capabilities. As for handheld consoles, the company also sells the PlayStation Portable and the PlayStation Vita.
Sony also launched the PlayStation Network in 2006, a comprehensive online platform that offers a wide range of services including online gaming, access to the PlayStation Store with its vast library of games, and PlayStation Plus, a subscription service providing exclusive games, discounts, and online multiplayer features.
Overall, the PlayStation brand continues to be a dominant force in the game. The recently released PS5 Pro, with its upgraded GPU and memory, stands as a testament to Sony’s innovation and competitiveness.
PlayStation consoles are the most sold globally
The PlayStation 2, or PS2, was first launched in 2000, a follow-up to Sony's hugely popular original PlayStation. In the 21 years since its release, the PS2 has become the best-selling video game console of all time, with over 158 million units sold worldwide. The PlayStation 4, or PS4, is the second-most popular PlayStation video game console in terms of sales. The 2020 release with the PlayStation 5, or PS5, is part of the ninth generation of video game consoles, alongside Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S consoles. The PS5 is now available in three models: a base model featuring a disc drive, a digital-only version, and the newly introduced digital-only PS5 Pro. In 2023, Sony released their second-generation virtual reality headset for the PS5, the PlayStation VR2, which accounted for 15 percent of all extended reality (XR) sold globally at the end of 2023.Sony also launched the PlayStation Network in 2006, a comprehensive online platform that offers a wide range of services including online gaming, access to the PlayStation Store with its vast library of games, and PlayStation Plus, a subscription service providing exclusive games, discounts, and online multiplayer features.
Sony competitors catch up
Of the all-time sales of video game consoles, Sony registers two of its products in the top five, with Nintendo’s DS, Switch, and Game Boy devices comprising the rest. Other competitors include Microsoft’s Xbox console family, although Sony has sold over twice as many of its PlayStation 4 consoles compared to the Xbox One. Nintendo’s Switch has, however, topped both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S consoles in terms of revenue, bringing in the most revenue among all current-generation gaming consoles since its release in 2020.Overall, the PlayStation brand continues to be a dominant force in the game. The recently released PS5 Pro, with its upgraded GPU and memory, stands as a testament to Sony’s innovation and competitiveness.
