PS4 Sales Are Higher Than Ever, Sony In A Unique Position

If you’re reading this, chances are you probably own a PS4 by now. You might have also owned a PS2, It’s almost expected at this point. Recently, Sony just posted their best Playstation 4 numbers since release. In fact, it was the best quarter in history which shipped 9.7 million units worldwide during Q3 2016 …

[FallenAngel1984]

The only platforms that performed better than PS4 at this point in their lifecycles are DS and Wii.

[MRMagoo123]

I just added to those ps4 sales too , with a new ps4 pro and so far I'm pretty happy and can't wait for horizon zero dawn

[_-EDMIX-_]

Nice, add me EDMIX

[RedPill86]

PS2 sold a hell of a lot more software. I'd say it did better too.

[fr0sty]

PS4 is outselling PS2 at this point in its life cycle. I can't speak for software, but I'd imagine they aren't far apart.

[RedPill86]

@Fr0sty.

Hardware is ahead at this point. Software is not. Software has always been miles ahead. This isn't even a comparison. N4G is just keen on ignoring the facts. Report the hardware sales and ignore the elephant in the room. Give us a nice number to enjoy and ignore the bad one. Delusional fanboys. They arent helping. I for one want more software to sell. Gives Sony a chance to get back to the old days where it was usually a good game or 2 every month increasing in how many as we got towards the holidays. The PS2 library was no joke in terms of sales.

[IamTylerDurden1]

You are ridiculous, it's a different economic climate than it was in the early 2000's and if u compare software sales to PlayStation's closest competitor (xbox) it would tell you that PlayStation is selling considerably better. Just look at the weekly sales charts and PS4 games dominate it.

According to vgchartz most recent data 9/10 games on the weekly sales chart are PlayStation games. 8/10 are PS4 games, 1 is Vita, 1 is DS, and Zero are xbox. PlayStation is doing just fine..

http://www.vgchartz.com/

[bouzebbal]

there was a hell lot of piracy back to PS2 days. you could run burned games with no chip.
there is no piracy on PS4 so i guess software sales are higher now.

[RedPill86]

@IamTylerDurden1

The economy is different? Thanks. I've been living under a rock. I'm not saying it isn't, I'm pointing out what is more important. Software sales. They make the money. They have the largest returns. It's how the PS2 made so much bank for Sony.

Again. You're taking a weekly chart, seeing Playstation selling 'more' by 'comparison'. This is a fallacy as that is not what I'm comparing. The PS4 is outselling the Xbox One by roughly 2-1, correct? The software is roughly the same scale so the attach rate is roughly the same. But that, again, is not what I'm pointing out. How many software units being sold is the issue. Current gen games are not selling well by comparison to the PS2 Era. That is indicative of an unhealthy market. Yes, we're all WELL aware every rule has its exceptions. The Uncharted's the Minecraft's the GTA's and such.

Then again, you think I'm making this about Playstation exclusively. It's a problem that's in the entire industry. Xbox games aren't selling well either. I never said they weren't. You bring it up because you're a rabid fanboy who doesn't have the slightest clue what I'm talking about.

Hardware costs money.

Software makes money.

Software sales as a whole BY COMPARISON to previous generations are down a significant amount. This means less money is being brought in and the industry is less healthy for it. I mean THQ and how many other individual devs flat out closing their doors isn't an indicator for you people that games aren't being sold? If a software company is making games and people are buying them, they stick around. People aren't buying the games. We've witnessed the almost complete disintegration of the middle market.

Don't speak when you don't know what you're talking about. It is outright pathetic that I can see you reacted solely because I mentioned Sony and your fanboy pants got in a twist. You bring up Xbox to take them down a peg to see if I'll react, failing miserably as Xbox is in an ever worse position of selling less software (but with the advantage of selling half as much hardware, they have half as much to make up for by comparison).

Honestly. It's like you have no idea what's being talked about. Games sold well into the millions on the PS2. Games are lucky to reach 2, or if they're very lucky, 3, on modern consoles. And with the soaring costs of development people are not making money. Signs of that are all around you. Studios closing down. Games being cancelled. Publishers closing doors. IP being neglected. Games being sent out the door unfinished to be patched for free later on (and generally never to completion). What do you need to see to know something is wrong? Right now you're just ignorant.

[Cryptcuzz]

Weren't games back then also cheaper to buy? Then we got to also consider that back then, videogame options for the younger crowd as an option were not as diverse as it is now. We now tablets/smartphones and such to get games for the younger kids and they'll be happy.

You also mentioned hardware loses money and software makes the money. Usually that has always been the case, but with the start of the PS4, each console is sold with a little profit made already. That was not the case before, certainly not with the PS2 and the PS3 with theit custom SoC.

So, whether Sony is doing better with the PS2 or with the PS4 financially at the same time frame, I'm unsure, as that is a lot of number crunching and conjecture at this point. A lot of factors will have to be taken into consideration too. Some I have already mentioned, then we also got to consider other money making factors that the PS2 did not have at the time too. Some of which are PS Plus accounts, digital games sales, the amount of money they are profiting from services such as PS Vue, movie rentals, PS Now, etc.

I am not here to argue, merely just a drifter happening to walk by an already ongoing conversation and added some info that may help.

[thekhurg]

@Redpill

Gamefly wasn't around back then either. So there wasn't the easy option of game renting and sending back vs buying.

[callahan09]

@Shin-Zantetsuken Thanks for posting that link, because I was just about to ask @RedPill86 for a source, because I have seen nothing to indicate that the PS2 was "miles ahead" of the PS4 at this point in its life cycle in terms of software sales. Your link is a real source from a reputable publication and it says the exact opposite, that the PS4 has sold more software (higher attach rate) as well as more hardware.

[stuna1]

Dude you should have taken the blue pill! Everything you stated is the exact opposite of reality. The PS4 is the new PS2 this generation! It's a Juggernaut.

[fiveby9]

@RedPill86 But let's not forget that PS4 also has additional from PSN subscription which PS2 did not. Not saying PS2 was not amazing in terms for hardware and software sales, but when you consider the gaming landscape today with mobile, console, and pc, it is impressive how well PS4 has sold.

[Exvalos]

Naw man ps4 at the moment has a higher software attach Rate then ps2 and is outpacing it in sells

[2pacalypsenow]

@thekhurg

No but we had Blockbuster, Hollywood video to rent games from

[IamTylerDurden1]

Looks like you are the ignorant one. Apparently you are dead wrong about software sales.

I follow weekly and monthly charts constantly and i know that PS4 software is selling well. I used xbox as a comparison bc they are PlayStation's closest competitor. Simple as that.

Also, please stop using the term fanboy. You go off into a nerd rage tangent in every post and you call ppl (Sony fans) fanboys and it makes you sound like a child.

[DarXyde]

In prospect, that's pretty incredible. All are gaming devices, but the DS and Wii appealed to a dedicated market as well as tapping a sizable casual market. Basically, Nintendo could tap larger demographics. Put another way, the PS4 is basically the best selling established gamer's device (if that makes sense).

[Guitardr85]

@redpill86

http://vignette1.wikia.noco...

[butchertroll]

Problem for Wii after 4 year was his sales were just crashed suddenly.

[yeahright2]

Well by then the novelty and hype wore off and they had to count on games to sustain, and well, they couldn't. the good titles they had were buried by the amount of shovelware.
So those people either graduated to a 360/ps3, or never truly became gamers and are probably on mobile now.

[Mr Marvel]

Yes, and unlike the DS and Wii the PS4 is a proper console which doesn't feel or look like a Fisher-Price toy.

Luckily Nintendo look like they've taken a leaf out of Sony's book when designing the Switch.

[InTheZoneAC]

and we all know how strong the casual market is(Wii) so this is definitely an accomplishment when every analyst cried "consoles are dead" before this gen and beyond.

[corroios]

What is amazing arent just the sales, but the amount of exclusives that sony is launching. New i.p. after new i.p, beside the heavy triple AAA Franchises that will come out.

The amount games that we are getting its amazing. Beside the multiplatform, if you buy just one exclusive each month, there arent months enough.... I think 2017 will be a golden year for Sony.

[ShadowKnight]

I think its been a golden era for Sony and the PS4. Their first party studios really help them.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed you have to factor that Sony owns more first party Studios now than when they had PS2

[ninsigma]

What's ridiculous as well is people trying to say that Sony are getting complacent or are just coasting on the good sales. Only gotta look at their software output to discredit anyone who makes such a statement. With all the high rated exclusives releasing these days, it's no wonder PS4 is seeing great sales.

[UltraNova]

Yeah thats why they invested so much in VR because they got complacent. And as we know complacent people/companies like risky endevours...

[chrisx]

Playstation world domination. Xbox isn't a worthy competitior, just a pretender

[PlayableGamez-]

Hey Xbox just got GTAIV (a 9 year old game) via BC and a mobile game
PS needs to watch out for the rest of this winter.

[TFJWM]

What is sad is I can't tell if you are serious or /s

[Inzo]

@TFJWM

He is just being sarcastic.

[CaitSith]

He has Kiryu's pic on his avatar. Of course he's being sarcastic.

[Kabaneri]

I started out this gen a die hard Xbox fanboy; now I havent even turned on my Xb1 since Gears 4 came out. Sony is absolutely wrecking Xbox in every imaginable way.

[_-EDMIX-_]

I mean you could still like a Gears of War and Halo but at the end of the day you cannot deny when a system is releasing new game after new game after new game every single generation like clockwork.

At some point you have to realize it's time to only both platforms , that there is no benefit to the consumer to not own a PlayStation at this point.

Sony made it a very very very big point that they were not going to be the secondary console they are going to be the primary system you purchase every generation.

You have to question everyone else in regards to Microsoft and Nintendo, the PlayStation is the only platform that is extremely consistent In regards to always releasing something new.

That freedom that they've given their first party teams is very much resonating with consumers and that is now becoming a huge deal answer purchasing power.

That would be like a consumer watching Fox and all Fox does with their same Studios is produced American Idol and 24, not bad programs but then you have another Network that is basically always making new shows that actually stay on the air

Chances Are Over time you're going to have to question to what benefit is it for us, the Consumer to deny yourself new content?

[Shadowolf]

@ EDMIX

Very well said!

[StormLegend]

Without Sony gaming wouldn't be the same. I mean just look at Nintendo & MS. Once can't release a good home console without gimmicks & tons of games, the other one has the home console, but won't make any exclusives for it. Both of these companies are richer than Sony, but the so called poor company is outdoing them easily.
People need to put some RESPECT on Sony's name.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed I would argue that modern gaming as we know it today is because of Sony answering the gaming Market.

At the time I actually very much remember their original release of the PlayStation one was like nothing before it.

At the time I never even believed that gaming could even reach those Heights.

Nintendo just had a Stranglehold on the market and I believe they were dictating way too much in regards to other developers that they don't own.

PlayStation only existed because Sony said yes, to were Nintendo was telling developers no.

It was very clear that Sony believed that gaming can be treated like a respectable medium and not like a child instrument if given developers the opportunity to create what they want at this time Nintendo was literally stopping developers from even putting specific subject matter in their games which in my opinion is overall irrelevant

Nintendo should have easily just left developers to create their games and they should have let the ESRB worry about that as opposed to having this bizarre Nazi rule over their platform.

They drove developers to the PlayStation and which allowed Sony to let those developers create what they want freely and they even worked with both developers and creating the PlayStation to have it allowed the performance in media format necessary for their games to be created case and point Final Fantasy 7.

Final Fantasy 7 light literally be the birth of the PlayStation and the final Nails in the coffin in terms of Nintendo having a hardcore Market.

And to think all of this started because Sony said yes to a media format and Nintendo said no.

One listened to developers and got Final Fantasy 7

One didn't listen to its Developers and it would be a historic failure.

[Bathyj]

Agreed.
Sony made gaming grow up. It had been seen as a past time for kids up until then and was never taken seriously by the mainstream. It dragged it out of the schools and put it in nightclubs. Literally. I won a PSOne playing Wipeout in a nightclub. (Iwas 18 when PSOne came out.)

And it grew the industry with its popularity. As amazing as Nes and SNES were, those consoles only sold 62m and 49m units respectively. The first Playstation did over 100m, the first console to do that.

It also made new games possible with both 3D graphics (not the first time that had been done, but the first time it was done well) and the CD format (ditto) which we all know about the FFVII thing.

Not only that but the fact Microsoft ever got into console gaming you can directly attribute to Sonys success with PSOne and their desire for a piece of that ever growing pie.

No you are not overstating things at all when you say that modern gaming as we know it is where it is because of Sony. They changed gaming as surely as they changed portable music with the Walkman. And thanks for turning them down and reneging on your deal Nintendo with your Draconian stipulations, you did us all a favour.

[ARESWARLORD]

I don't disagree with what you're saying you have to give Sega credit Sega was always hardcore right back to the Genesis when they put blood in Mortal Kombat 2 is Sega hadn't died they would be much like Sony today

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Bath- thanks and I 100% agree with your post. The very much saw what gaming could be far ahead of any company.

@ARE- consider I simply didn't mention them based on focusing more so on Sony which was the Pioneer in Nintendo which was the older concept of Gaming

That isn't to say that Sega isn't a Pioneer in their own right , in my personal opinion if Sony did not enter the market, I believe it would have been Sega that overtook Nintendo with having just better hardware and I believe overtime they were going to keep getting more developers if the PlayStation actually didn't enter the market.

I was definitely sad and when Sega stopped producing Hardware and I don't believe it's that they failed to adapt to the market ,simply that they failed to adapt to the market early enough.

They had the CD format , they even had a modem inside the Dreamcast, I actually believe that if Sega was able to court more third-party I believe ultimately they would have ended up beating Nintendo especially if you consider how much support the Saturn in Dreamcast by specific third-party

Dreamcast and Sega Saturn only got left in the dust because of the existence of the PlayStation, because technically speaking some of the titles that hit the Dreamcast were either already on PlayStation or headed to PlayStation 2 which only goes to show that those developers had the hardware and the format to make those games but clearly could make more money on the PlayStation but if it was just Sega vs. Nintendo I actually believed those two platforms might have been what's Sega needed to overtake Nintendo

In an alternate reality if Sony never enters the market squaresoft could've been going to say go for Final Fantasy 7.

Look at it from the developers Point of View Square soft. They probably didn't care that if it was Pioneer Microsoft Sega even Nintendo they simply cared that a format was releasing by a major company that allowed their game to exist the way they were already imagining and developing it

Whoever provided the hardware in the media format for squaresoft gets Final Fantasy 7 likely becomes a huge giant in gaming.

I could go on and on about the amazing achievements that Sega has brought to gaming especially in 3D design there's a really good video by digitalfoundry about Shenmue 1 and 2 in regards to 3D design that is really fascinating if you're interested.

the way I look at it is every time I think about whether something or not could have been successful look at it from the developer's point of view , all they actually want is the hardware , the format and can the company deliver a massive install base.

technically speaking without the PlayStation, Sega had a lot of that going for them and possibly could have gotten the support of squaresoft

consider squaresoft aligned themselves with a company that literally had zero history in gaming so it would not Shock me if squaresoft aligned themselves with Sega if the PlayStation did not exist.

It's a company I believe doesn't really get the amount of respect and praise it deserves.

https://youtu.be/c0blSBgpRU...

[IamTylerDurden1]

The best part about it is Sony has restructured their company in order to make gaming their primary focus. It's risky, but at least we know that Sony depends on gaming in order to survive as a company. This is why we have gotten Sony's best shot this gen, this is why the past couple E3's have been jaw dropping for the PlayStation brand.

Even though Microsoft is absolutely loaded with money it means nothing for their gaming division, in fact, it could actually be a bad thing. Gaming is such a small portion of Microsoft's revenue stream so there is really no reason for them to go all in like Sony and take risks. This is why we see such little investment in first party and little to no diversity in their games lineup. Risks equal more potential to lose money, and Microsoft is all about money. They would rather milk the same franchises year after year than invest heavily on new ones. Even if you look at their biggest franchises they are the safest genres you could ask for, shooters and racing. New IP like Horizon and Days Gone are huge, expensive risks that i couldn't imagine seeing from Microsoft.

It's not a coincidence that PlayStation is booming after the restructuring, and i think the best is yet to come. The PlayStation brand has more potential now than it had during the PS2 era bc the brand is more important to Sony than it has ever been.

[Why o why]

Good comments guys. . . I do feel Sega does need more credit though but where Sony had business and financial stamina, they did not. .

[UCForce]

My view on PlayStation:
PS1 was the first samurai to the new age.
PS2 was the true samurai and the one who brought the golden age of gaming.
PS3 was the redemption samurai who was almost lost the honor, but made a big comeback to the rival.
Now, PS4 is next generation samurai who will carry the old and the new. And it's PS2 successor.

[Sparta07]

" it was the best quarter in history which shipped 9.7 million units worldwide during Q3 2016 …"
Wait!! I'm confused. According to Microsoft and their pr staff here on N4G Xboxone was the only console to grow yoy.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

That was comparing the single month of Jan 2016 to the single month of Jan 1017, it grew YOY. Not quarters.

[yomfweeee]

And Microsoft wasn't talking worldwide.

[OB1Biker]

Ms said the exact same thing in December though.
https://www.vg247.com/2017/...

Something seems off there.

[Omeganex9999]

People lie, numbers don't.

[UnR34L_DEAF]

Wow, its so amazing for PS4 because that PS2 era dont really have any competitions-- thats why PS2 was highest selling in back time. Imagine that if PS4 sales keep steady like this... PS5 will wipe all video gaming competitions easy. XD

[Ceaser9857361]

Software sales Hardware and Sony is doing extremely well So i am not surprised. .. Well done Sony..

[LexHazard79]

This gen has been incredible for Playstation owners. No end in site....when you pump out great games and the hardware to go with it. You're gonna get rewarded. Man to think posting best in PS history #s. Crazy! Congrats Sony and Thank you. #moneywellspent

[Melankolis]

As a Playstation fan, i can say that we need Microsoft (and Nintendo). Competition is usually a good thing.

[Shakengandulf]

Playstation was doing fine without Microsoft for a long time..
Nintendo.. sure.

[Melankolis]

But Sega was there...

[SilverDemon]

Tell that to MS and Nintendo, it's their fault for not offering games both exclusives and multiplats to compete with sony

[Melankolis]

You are somewhat right. But in the early last gen, PS3 was struggling. Even FF & Tekken came to Xbox. Sony fixed the situation gradually. Then we have Uncharted series and the other exclusives...

[nowitzki2004]

Sony is proving that wrong. They have not had any competition all gen and still continue to bring greatness.

[Melankolis]

Sony had a fierce competition with MS's Xbox360 last gen. A lot of franchises were also coming and performed better on Xbox360, well, in the first 3 years...
See, I'm proving you're wrong...
They're bringing greatness, yes! But true greatness came from getting knocked down and get up again (like they do with PS4 now)

[SynestheticRoar]

Sony straight killing it.

[Inzo]

Sony are old hands at this, they dont release consoles to count how many bullets have been fired or how active you are online. They do this to give us games and that is why the PS4 is doing so well because its primary function is gaming. So bring on the Scorpio and all its power, its fighting a lost cause.

[Pamela-Ibis]

I wonder if they will reach 70 mil this year. So many good games coming out this year. What are you guys excited for the most? Mines are Days gone, Spiderman, Neir Automata, P5 and kh hd collection. Between my ps4 and Switch I'll be gaming a lot this year.

[MasterCornholio]

I always have something to play on my PS4.

Those sales are well deserved.

[masterfox]

Congrats to Sony, show them how is done. ;)

[starchild]

I'm very happy with my PS4 Pro. I like the hardware and I like the games Sony is releasing. This feels like probably the best Playstation console generation yet. The PS2 had a large amount of great games, but the online gaming aspect was very basic and undeveloped at that point and the hardware power wasn't very good relative to several other platforms at the time. The PS4 has great games, a well developed online network and features, and very respectable hardware performance (especially on the Pro).

I think what's impressive about Sony this generation is just how well rounded their approach is. They haven't really neglected any area. The price is consumer friendly, the output of exclusives is excellent, the online is well developed, the third party games are plentiful, hardware power is good, they released an attractive VR option, as well as a more powerful mid-gen upgraded PS4 for those of us that care a lot about image quality and performance.

[S2Killinit]

Best quarter "in history" !!
9.7 million 0_o

[ironmonkey]

Man the shit that sony as a company had to go through to keep going and pushing forward and to be back on top again as a gaming role model. That's mad respect.

[Bronxs15]

This is great. Sony sending strong signals to competitors (Nintendo and Microsoft) if you gonna come, come proper and come prepared!

[sin7279]

Ps4 401 milion games sold ps2 352 game sol d in the same times

[StormSnooper]

Playstation deserves it. They are the most consistent company. Their consoles last the entire generation and keep getting better until the very end. You can't say that about the competition.

[BIGBOSS08]

Sony are where there at because of the work they've put into the PS brand for over 20 years. Work that has resulted with PS being the biggest brand in the industry today and will continue to be for the next few years at least by the looks of it but anything can happen i suppose. We'll see. Right now, PS4 is without a doubt, the best place to play! Nobody else even comes close!

[Tross]

Someone should save a link to this for the next time someone is dumb enough to post an article about whether Sony should be afraid of the Scorpio and/or Switch.

[Major_Glitch]

Nintendo and MS aren't competing with Sony for the top spot. They're competing with each other for second place.

[TechnoGoat]

The SlayStation, cause it's killing the game right now!

[pleasuretokill]

Currently the PS4 is the only system I don't have this gen. I have an Xbox One and a Wii U. I may pick up a PS4 at some point but I'm not sure. Most of my gaming is done on PC. Playing Witcher 3 at 4k/60fps on an OLED is pure glory. Kinda hard to go back to consoles of any sort after seeing those amazing graphics. It would be great if all games were made on PC, then we wouldn't be forced to put up with mediocre hardware and paying for an online service that we already pay for by paying for internet.

[SuperbVillain]

they made me get a fuckin ps4 pro on my 1080p tv. fuck you sony. love you though

[DashArrivals]

Well you have future proofed yourself for when you DO get a 4k TV

[II__BONE__II]

'member Berries.
'member when all the Xbox Fanboys posted every chance they could "Sony ain't got no GAMES!" Where are all those fanboys with their posts now? I want to hear about ALL the Xbox games,...you know Forza, Gears of war and Halo.