Sony shipped almost five times more PlayStation 5 units than Microsoft shipped Xbox Series X and S consoles during the last financial quarter, according to one analyst.
This week, Sony announced it had shipped 4.5 million PS5 units during the three-month period ending March 31, 2024, down from the 6.3 million it had shipped the same period the previous year.
Microsoft has said Xbox hardware revenue declined 31% during the quarter, predicting more declines to come. But the company does not report console sales figures — perhaps with good reason. Now, one analyst has provided an estimated PS5 to Xbox Series X and S ratio that gives us an idea of just how far behind Microsoft has fallen when it comes to console sales.
Daniel Ahmad, Director of Research and Insights at Niko Partners, tweeted to say the firm’s estimates put the PS5 and Xbox Series X and S at 5:1 for the quarter. Given Sony shifted 4.5 million PS5s during the period, that would mean Microsoft shifted approximately 900,000 Xbox Series X and S consoles combined.
5. The PlayStation 5 shipped 4.5 million units in the last quarter. According to our estimates, this is almost 5x more than the Xbox Series X|S shipped in the same period.
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) May 14, 2024
(This is a bonus one for the console warriors + my rent is due)
As Ahmad later pointed out, this huge gap is relatively new, with Xbox Series X and S closer to 2:1 versus PS5 in lifetime-to-date sales. But the gap is clearly widening. If that 2:1 ratio is accurate, Xbox Series X and S has sold around 29 million units at best, given PS5 has sold 59.3 million so far. For comparison’s sake, Xbox One ended up selling 58 million. It seems unlikely Xbox Series X and S will beat that figure.
Perhaps the huge gap between PS5 and Xbox Series X and S shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, given Microsoft’s clear shift away from the console as the be-all and end-all of its gaming ambitions. Microsoft has admitted Xbox has lost the console war, and there’s little sign Xbox will catch PlayStation this generation. Indeed, Microsoft is now selling some of its Xbox games on rival platforms, including PS5, with the expectation that more are to come. Still, Microsoft has confirmed plans to release more powerful hardware in the future, and there are rumblings it also plans to release an Xbox handheld.
The Xbox console’s failings come during a particularly difficult time for Microsoft’s gaming business, which is in the process of laying off an eye-watering 1,900 staff. Earlier this month, Microsoft shocked the video game world by closing down Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, and there are concerns more cuts are to come. Last year, Microsoft spent an incredible $69 billion on buying Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard, a move that has reportedly put the gaming business under pressure to cut costs. IGN recently asked analysts what's next for subscription service Game Pass amid these troubling times.
As for Sony, it’s said the PS5 is past its sales peak as it enters its fourth year on sale. The company is reportedly set to release a PS5 Pro model, with Rockstar’s GTA 6 waiting in the wings.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
