Sony has confirmed that PlayStation 5 shipments to retailers have now surpassed 100 million units as of 10th November, marking a significant milestone nearly six years after the console’s initial launch. The figure, disclosed in Sony’s updated sales data, refers to ‘sell-in’ shipments rather than direct sales to consumers.
This milestone moves the PS5 closer to matching the PlayStation 4‘s lifetime shipments of 117 million units, achieved by mid-2022, and the original PlayStation’s 102.4 million units sold. Although the 100 million figure is impressive, it represents units sent to retailers and therefore the actual number of consoles in circulation is somewhat lower.
Declining Sales in 2026 Fiscal Year
Sony’s financial reports indicate a downturn in PS5 sales during the current fiscal year. The most recent quarter (Q2 FY2026) saw just 2.6 million units sold, a significant drop from 4 million units in the same quarter the previous year. This represents the lowest Q2 sales performance since the PS5 launched.
The quarter did see a modest increase compared to Q1 FY2026, where 1.6 million units were sold – itself the second-lowest quarterly figure to date after Q4 FY2025’s 1.5 million. Should sales not improve in the latter half of the year, 2026 could mark the console’s lowest annual sales performance since its release.
Factors Affecting PlayStation 5 Sales
Sony attributes part of the recent sales spike to the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, which generated notable consumer interest during Q2. However, the broader sales decline is linked mainly to higher retail pricing following multiple price increases for the PS5 and PS5 Pro models since 2020.
Despite the unit sales slowdown, Sony reports its revenue streams remain stable. The company’s strategy to focus on monetising its existing user base rather than relying solely on hardware sell-through continues to support its financial performance.
With the PS5 approaching key lifetime shipment milestones, the long-term sales trajectory is now under closer scrutiny as the console generation matures.
