Sony's PlayStation 4 (PS4) is still riding the high tide, outperforming Microsoft consoles again. Sony announced that it sold more than 70 million PS4 units as of December 2017.
Microsoft and Nintendo both launched new consoles this year, yet Sony, although it did not release any new hardware, is still enjoying great momentum with its old PS4.
More Than 70 Million PS4 Units Sold
Sony says it managed to sell 70.6 million PS4 units, including PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro models. The company also sold more than two million PlayStation VR units, outperforming the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift.
"We are delighted that so many people are enjoying the unique entertainment proposition of PlayStation 4 and that an emerging technology like PlayStation VR continues to gain traction," says Andrew House, Sony Interactive Entertainment Chairman.
House highlights that since the first PlayStation made its debut all the way back in 1994, partners and fans made it possible for PlayStation to become one of the world's largest console gaming networks.
"We will continue to work closely with partners to maintain this momentum and remain steadfast in making PS4 the best place to play," he adds.
The impressive PS4 sales mark a notable milestone for the company and if the console keeps fueling strong sales, it might actually surpass its predecessor, the PlayStation 3. The PS3 sold little more than 80 million units over its entire lifespan, whereas the PS4 is already nearing that mark after just four years on the market.
PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One
At the same time, while the race between the PS3 and the Xbox 360 was extremely tight, Microsoft's Xbox One and its S/ X variants might not be as close to the PS4's market performance. That's just an educated guess and general presumption, however, as Microsoft is no longer playing this game and has not released any unit sales figures for the Xbox.
Analysts estimate that Microsoft's Xbox sales have been less than half those of PlayStation since both the Xbox One and the PS4 launched back in 2013. Microsoft has neither confirmed nor denied such estimates, and with no hard numbers for Xbox sales, it looks like the PS4 is winning by a long shot.
For Sony, however, the best-selling gaming console still remains the old PlayStation 2, which sold roughly 155 million units in its lifespan. The PS4 is not there yet, and it would need quite a big boost to reach the PS2's success.
