High demand but low supply due to the ongoing chip shortage means that Sony has sold only 19.3 million PlayStation 5 consoles in total.
19.3 million PS5 consoles as of March 31, 2022, is 3.1 million fewer units than the PS4 within the same time frame after launch. Sony had sold 22.4 million PlayStation 4 consoles as of March 31, 2015.
Only 2 million PS5 consoles were shipped in the first quarter of 2022, down from 3.3 million in the first quarter of 2021. The fact that quarterly sales are decreasing – not increasing – illustrates the severity of the ongoing chip shortage that some people in the industry expect to last into 2024.
In addition, 0.1 million PS4 consoles were shipped in the first quarter of 2022.
Sony had expected to sell 14.8 million PS5 units in its last fiscal year (ending March 31, 2022) but only managed to sell 11.5 million. The company could potentially have sold far more PS5 consoles as demand remains strong.
Sony expects to sell 18 million in this fiscal year (starting April 1, 2022) – another reduction from its original plan of 22.6 million.
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Microsoft Xbox and other consumer electronics brands are also struggling to keep up with demand due to the chip shortage.
A total of 70.5 million games for PS5 and PS4 were sold in the first quarter of 2022. Digital sales now account for 71% of sales. Sony has 47.4 million PlayStation Plus subscribers.
- Source: Sony
