In a significant victory for Sony, the company shipped almost five times more PlayStation 5 (PS5) consoles than Microsoft managed with Xbox Series X/S in the last quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. This is according to Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad, who has been closely following Sony's financial reports. The PS5 shipped a staggering 4.5 million units in the last quarter, while Microsoft's figures remain undisclosed but are estimated to be around one-tenth of Sony's sales. This is a clear indication of the strong demand for the PS5 and Sony's dominance in the console market at present.
Sony has sold over 59 million PS5 consoles in total, which is roughly equivalent to where the PS4 was at the same point in its lifecycle. On the other hand, Microsoft has seen a 31% year-on-year drop in Xbox console sales, although specific figures have not been released.
The success of Sony can be attributed to its diverse income streams. It is not only focusing on console sales but also expanding into PC gaming with hits like Helldivers 2, which has become the fastest-selling PlayStation game of all time. Additionally, Sony has not disclosed the latest PlayStation Plus subscription numbers but is using playtime on PlayStation as an indicator of success. This metric increased by 15% year-on-year and reached its second highest level ever (the highest since the pandemic).
Sony's games segment saw a 17% year-on-year increase in sales, while operating income rose by 40.2bn yen year-on-year to a total of 290.2bn yen. In contrast, Microsoft closed several studios, including Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin, due to poor performance of the Xbox Series X/S.
In conclusion, Sony's strong financial performance and dominance in the console market can be attributed to its diverse income streams and ability to adapt to changing consumer preferences. The company's focus on expanding into PC gaming and using playtime as an indicator of success has helped it maintain its lead over Microsoft.