PlayStation 5 Surpasses PS3’s Lifetime U.S. Sales in Under Five Years

PS5 Achieves Major U.S. Sales Milestone

Sony’s PlayStation 5 has reportedly overtaken the PlayStation 3’s lifetime installed base in the United States, according to industry analysis. The current-generation console achieved this sales milestone in just under five years since its November 2020 launch, sources indicate.

PS5 Achieves Major U.S. Sales Milestone
Analyst Reveals Sales Achievement
Historical Sales Context
Current PS5 Sales Performance
Future Sales Expectations

Analyst Reveals Sales Achievement

Respected Circana analyst Mat Piscatella shared the sales update via social media platform Bluesky, noting that the PlayStation 5 surpassed PlayStation 3’s lifetime installed base during September’s sales period. “September 2025 US video game data fun fact – The PlayStation 5 has now surpassed the PlayStation 3 in lifetime installed base,” Piscatella wrote, adding “So that’s cool.”

While specific sales figures weren’t disclosed due to Circana’s paid data model, analysts suggest the PS5 continues to demonstrate strong performance in the U.S. market. In follow-up comments, Piscatella noted that PS5 sales remain ahead of PlayStation 4 on a “time-aligned basis” in the United States, and have maintained this position for “a very long time.” According to the analysis, PS5 currently leads PS4 by approximately 4.6 percent when comparing equivalent time periods after launch.

Historical Sales Context

Sony’s official business data provides context for these milestones, though the figures represent global sales and older timeframes. According to Sony’s published data:

PlayStation 4 recorded over 113.5 million global sales as of September 2020
PlayStation 3 reached more than 87.4 million units sold globally as of March 2017
PlayStation 2 remains the company’s best-selling console with over 160 million units sold as of March 2012

The report states that these historical figures have likely changed since their publication dates, given continued sales in various markets.

Current PS5 Sales Performance

Sony’s most recent financial report from August indicated the PlayStation 5 had reached 80.3 million units sold globally. The analysis suggests this sales pace has remained roughly comparable to PlayStation 4’s performance on a like-for-like basis for some time. The next comprehensive financial results from Sony are expected on November 11, which should provide updated global sales figures.

Future Sales Expectations

Despite these strong performances, industry observers suggest Sony anticipates PS5 sales to slow in the coming period. According to reports, this expected slowdown stems from multiple factors, including the console potentially passing its sales peak and challenging economic conditions affecting the gaming market. Analysts note that console prices for the current generation have reached historical highs, which may impact future sales momentum.

The changing sales landscape reportedly presents unique considerations for planning future console generations. Some industry watchers suggest the fundamental role of gaming consoles may be evolving amid these market conditions and consumer spending patterns.

References

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