PlayStation 4 sees 73 million sales; Nintendo in its rear-view mirror

A scene from “Uncharted: The Lost Legacy”, one of the PlayStation 4’s 2017 exclusives. Images: Naughty Dog/Sony Interactive Entertainment via AFP Relaxnews

Sony has amassed some 73.6 million sales of its PlayStation console, thanks to the purchase of nearly six million units during December 2017.

With Microsoft declining to report sales of the Xbox One since it became obvious that PlayStation was pulling away with increased momentum, it’s only Sony and Nintendo who are spotlighting their console-shifting achievements with solid numbers.

The PlayStation 4 has racked up 73.6 million unit sales in the time between its worldwide debut on November 15, 2013, and the close of the year on Dec. 31, 2017.

A 5.9 million portion of the total came during the 2017 holiday season, according to Sony Interactive Entertainment, quoting figures obtained during the period between Nov. 19 and Dec. 31.

Sony’s 5.9 million hardware sales figure for Holiday 2017 represents an increase on 2015 (5.7 million) 2014 (4.1 million) and 2013 (2.1 million) while the 20.2 million PlayStation 4 consoles sold during the entire year was also up on 2016’s record of 17.5 million.

That appears to be good news for Sony, which is dealing with increased competition from a resurgent Nintendo; the Switch debuted March 2017, sold 10 million units by the beginning of December, and is targeting 14 million sold by March 2018.

In addition, 55.9 million PlayStation 4 games were sold through both at retail and through the digital PlayStation Store, making for a cumulative total of 645 million games purchased; between 8 and 9 per PlayStation 4.

That’s not to say each PlayStation 4 owner has immediate access to an average of 8 to 9 games, however, as Sony’s PlayStation Plus membership scheme provides access to three or four additional PS4 games a month, for however long the subscription is kept running.

PlayStation Plus membership passed 31.5 million, SIE President and CEO John Kodera said in a prepared statement, in which he thanked fans for their continued support.

Yet Nintendo has been even more bullish, making preparations to have between 25 million and 30 million Switch consoles manufactured for April 2018 to March 2019, a figure that blows past PlayStation 4’s 2017 tally and may force talk of a PS5 in order to keep players locked to Sony’s home consoles. JB

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