PS4 vs PS5: Sales, Revenue, and Player Spending

The comparison between Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles remains a focus for gamers and industry analysts. Both systems have achieved significant success and influenced the gaming industry, but how do they compare in sales, revenue, and player engagement? Here's an analysis based on performance in each console's first five years.

The PlayStation 4, launched in 2013, set high standards for console sales. It has sold 117 million units to date and reached 79.1 million units at its five-year mark. The PlayStation 5 has nearly matched that pace, with 77.8 million units sold as of its fifth anniversary.

A recent forecast by Video Games Chronicle suggests the PlayStation 4 may maintain its lead, as PlayStation 5 sales are expected to decline slightly compared with the PlayStation 4's performance in its sixth year in 2025.

The PlayStation 5 has outpaced its predecessor in revenue generation. In its first five years, the PlayStation 5 generation produced $136 billion in sales revenue and $13 billion in operating profit, according to Sony's annual financial reports.

The PlayStation 4 generation accumulated $107 billion in revenue over its first seven years, making the PlayStation 5 Sony's most profitable console generation. The revenue surge stems from hardware sales, subscription services, virtual-reality add-ons, and other products.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Sony's Game & Network Services segment, which includes PlayStation, generated $10.6 billion, a 16 percent year-over-year increase. Hardware revenues climbed 23 percent in the same period following the PlayStation 5 Pro launch. PlayStation's operating profit in fiscal 2024 reached $2.82 billion, a 43 percent increase from the previous year.

One striking difference between the generations is player spending per console. In their first four years, PlayStation 5 owners spent an average of $731 per active console, compared with $580 for PlayStation 4 owners, according to Statista.

The increased spending reflects growing emphasis on digital content, in-game purchases, and live-service games. PlayStation Plus subscription costs have also risen, affecting player spending.

The PlayStation 4 era featured popular games including Marvel's Spider-Man, God of War, and The Last of Us Part II. The PlayStation 5 has seen fewer first-party releases. Sony has relied more heavily on third-party hits and live-service games such as Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Roblox to drive engagement and revenue. Upcoming titles, including Death Stranding 2, Grand Theft Auto 6, and Ghost of Yote, could boost the platform’s sales as well.

PlayStation's active user network has reached record levels. In the fourth quarter of 2024, PlayStation Network reached 129 million monthly active users according to Sony’s latest fiscal report. Of those users, 48 percent use PlayStation 4 while 52 percent use PlayStation 5.

The PlayStation 4 maintains a slight edge in total units sold, but the PlayStation 5 has generated more revenue for Sony. Player spending has reached record levels, driven by digital content and subscriptions, while Sony's active user network continues expanding. A complete comparison remains difficult because the PlayStation 4 has had a longer product cycle than the PlayStation 5.