PS5 Sales Hit 77.8 Million Units Shipped; Sony Predicts Decline in FY2025 Unit Sales

Sony’s Q4 FY 2024 Financial Highlights: PS5 Shipment Update

In its recently released fiscal year 2024 fourth quarter financial report, Sony revealed that total PlayStation 5 shipments have reached an impressive 77.8 million units. However, the latest quarter saw a notable decline, with only 2.8 million units shipped, compared to 4.5 million units in the same period last year. Moreover, the overall annual performance was less favorable, with PS5 sales dropping from 20.8 million units in fiscal year 2023 to 18.5 million units in fiscal year 2024.

Outlook for Fiscal Year 2025

Looking ahead, Sony has provided a cautious forecast for fiscal year 2025, anticipating a further decline in hardware sales for the PlayStation 5. This downturn is expected to be mitigated by a boost in first-party software sales, particularly with the upcoming release of eagerly awaited titles like Ghost of Yotei, scheduled for October 2.

FY2025 Forecast Overview

Sales: Forecasted at 370.0 billion yen, marking an 8% decrease due to:

Lower hardware sales from decreased unit sales
Effects of foreign exchange fluctuations
Projected increase in first-party game software sales
Growth in non-first-party game software sales, including downloadable content

Operating Income: Expected to reach 65.2 billion yen, reflecting a 16% increase driven by:

Higher sales of first-party game titles

Sales Trends and Active User Growth

Despite this year’s decline in PS5 hardware sales, overall software sales across both PS4 and PS5 rose significantly, increasing from 286.4 million units in 2023 to 303.3 million units in 2024. It is essential to note that most of this growth was driven by third-party titles, while first-party game sales fell from 39.7 million units to 28.9 million units year-over-year. Additionally, the digital download ratio for full game purchases also saw a marked increase, going from 70% in 2023 to 76% in 2024, indicating a shift in consumer purchasing habits.

User Engagement Metrics

In terms of user engagement, Sony reported a 5% increase in Monthly Active Users (MAUs), from 118 million in Q4 2023 to 124 million in Q4 2024. This surge may be partly attributed to the requirement for some PC games to access the PlayStation Network, a condition that was not prevalent in the previous year, thereby contributing to the increased user base.

For more details on Sony’s financial projections and insights into the gaming market, visit the article linked here.