PS5 vs PS4 Launch Sales Comparison Through Week 22

During week 22, the gap grew in favor of the PlayStation 5 when compared to the aligned launch of the PlayStation 4 by 22,754 units. In the last month, the PlayStation 5 has outsold the PlayStation 4 by 125,928 units. The PlayStation 5 is currently ahead by just 109,393 units.

The PlayStation 5 has sold 7.30 million units in 22 weeks, while the PlayStation 4 sold 7.19 million units. Week 22 for the PlayStation 5 is the week ending April 10, 2021 and it is the week ending April 11, 2014 for the PlayStation 4.

[waverider]

Now this is just crazy. How can the Ps5 be ahead of the record breaking PS4. Crazy stuff. With the Pandemic.

[septemberindecember]

To this day I don't know why people are saying "with the pandemic" as if it's been a hindrance for game sales.

A) Literally all consoles saw a huge boost when the pandemic hit and game sales and console sales are up YoY

B) Clearly manufacturing is not an issue as the PS5 and XSX are selling more than their predecessors in the same timeframe and even the Switch is selling more this year in comparison to last year.

[Nyxus]

It's well known that the pandemic has caused problems for the production of consoles. They sell out instantly and people have a difficult time getting their hands on them. They simply can't produce enough to meet demands. So yes, in terms of console sales I'm pretty sure it hurts them more than they benefit from it (for games it's a different story).

[septemberindecember]

@Nyxus

They are struggling to manufacture consoles, yet they are able to manufacture more consoles than they ever have before...Clearly it hasn't impacted manufacturing much.

They are selling out due to high demand. PS2, Wii, 360, PS3, PS4, Switch...all these consoles suffered shortage after launch due to high demand. None of them amid a pandemic. It's certainly not uncommon.

[Nyxus]

True, but the point is they could've made more if the circumstances had been different. At least, that's what I get from this: https://www.bbc.com/news/ne...

[septemberindecember]

@Nyxus

Maybe, but, again, there has been a huge boost in video game console sales since the pandemic. If they could have made more maybe their wouldn't have had unprecedented demand.

I mean, look at the Switch sales last year. It blew up around March and just kept going. It ended up hitting 28M in one year, something we haven't seen since the Nintendo DS. Is that despite the pandemic? Nah, in reality it's, at least in part, because of the pandemic that sales exploded.

[Thundercat77]

A. The pandemic is a real production situation and that's why everyone says "with pandemic". Don't know why would you like to pretend that it hasn't been a problem.

B. Xbox series is not selling more than it's predecesor. According to estimates, is barely there and by how Xbox likes to hide its sales,im pretty sure series x is not selling that.

Xbox Series X|S Total Sales: 3,729,135
Xbox One Total Sales: 3,591,945

[darthv72]

^thunder... It sure looks like Series X/S is selling more than its predecessor to me.
Gap change in latest week: 42,975 - XSX|S
Gap change over last month: 182,379 - XSX|S
Total Lead: 366,694 - XSX|S
Xbox Series X|S Total Sales: 4,525,737
Xbox One Total Sales: 4,159,043

https://www.vgchartz.com/ar...

[yeahokwhatever]

the people who didnt have their job ended by the government have MORE money in their pockets this year than they would without the pandemic. tons of cash just sitting around burning holes in peoples pockets. Nothing is/was open, nothing to spend it on. nowhere to go, hundreds in gas saved per month. its not just consoles that are selling like hotcakes. all of the bicycle shops near me are sold out. there's no chip shortage on mountain bikes.. how many new exercise products are there? peleton, hydro, etc. all pandemic luxury buys. the real economy crash is going to be when everything opens back up and that money starts going back to other entertainment like eating out and movies.

[septemberindecember]

@Thundercat

A) If it has been a problem, why again has Nintendo been able to manufacture more Switch units and Sony/MS been able to manufacture more launch units than ever before? Please, I legitimately want to hear how production issues explain this.

B) 3,729,135 > 3,591,945

[Chris12]

They managed to manufacture more consoles for the launch window, it's hardly rocket science

[XiNatsuDragnel]

PS5 the GOAT

[NeoGamer232]

I really think that needs to be proven out. To me the PS2 is probably the greatest of all time for consoles. So far, I have seen nothing to indicate that PS5 is anything more then a PS4 on steroids.

Then, again, this generation has yet to really show us anything other than graphical, sound, and controller improvements. I wanna see new games with now concepts Not more the same but looking better.

[yeahokwhatever]

game-wise, sure. but it was a different era.

[NeoGamer232]

@yeahokwhatever
It wasn't just gamewise.

Gamewise it started the modern era of game for sure but, it also added DVD ushering in consoles as entertainment devices too, and had networking which also started online gaming for consoles. The groundwork laid by PS2 and the number of new genres of console games it enabled probably will never be repeated again.

Name any other console that provided so much innovation in a single generation? Not to mention PS2 is the best selling console ever.

[darthv72]

@Neo the DVD part is correct but the online is incorrect. Because the network (hdd) adapter was a secondary thought for sony and not a primary. Unlike the DC before it (included a modem with each system) and the XB after it (including a hdd and ethernet built in every unit), both of which had more impact in terms of online connectivity and competitive/cooperative play. The PS2 was stuck in the middle with no real influence or impact in that aspect. Sure you had your select titles like Socom but it wasnt until the PS3 that Sony took online gaming seriously. It was an afterthought during the PS2 era.

[leahcim]

All comparison with PS5 are unfair because there is an unprecedented shortage of PS 5´S due to CV worldwide.

[ChasterMies]

“We wanted to tell you which console sold best but that would be unfair. So now you’ll never know!”