Sony’s recent quarterly financial report presents a mixed picture: the company is showing signs that the end may be near for the PlayStation 5 in two significant ways. Here’s an analysis based on the latest figures and details…
PS5 Sales Show a Noticeable Decline
Despite Sony’s PS5 outperforming its two major competitors, Nintendo’s Switch and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S, the official figures suggest that we are approaching the end of this console generation.
In the first quarter of the 2024 fiscal year (April 1 – June 30), PS5 sales reached 2.4 million units. Although this represents a decline compared to the same period last year, it brings the total PS5 sales to an impressive 61.7 million units.
Valorant was recently released for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It will be playable with cross-progression and some special settings.
The gaming division overall presents a positive outlook. In the “Games and Network Services” segment, sales increased by 12% year-over-year, and operating income rose by 32% to $443 million. This growth is attributed to changes in exchange rates, increased sales of first-party game software, and growth in PlayStation Plus subscriptions compared to the previous year.
In this quarter, 80% of game sales were through digital platforms, up from an average of 70% in the previous fiscal year. The declining sales of physical copies highlight a significant trend that offers important insights into the future of the industry.
In this context, it’s likely that serious rumors and information about the PlayStation 6 will begin to emerge around 2026. Additionally, the PlayStation 5 may be the last PS generation to include a physical media player.
