Sony’s 2018 financial reports from its first quarter give our latest look into the the health of the PlayStation 4, which has reached a towering 82.2 million consoles.
Between April 1 and June 30, 3.2 million people bought a PlayStation 4, a decrease of 100,00 consoles over the same time period last year. However, Sony expects the sales to increase later in the year thanks to a better lineup of video games.
Sales are expected to be significantly higher than the April forecast primarily due to higher-than-expected PlayStation 4 (“PS4”) software sales including sales through the network, the impact of foreign exchange rates, as well as an expected increase in PS4 hardware unit sales. The forecast for operating income is expected to be significantly higher than the April forecast primarily due to the impact of the above-mentioned increase in sales.
Overall, Sony expects the sales figure to reach 96 million consoles before the end of its financial year on March 19.
PlayStation 3 in clear sight, nowhere near PlayStation 2
Sony has long trumpeted its belief that this console generation will be the best-selling of all time. The allure of modern day gaming, the wide spectrum of gamers in the world, and the rabid grip on pop-culture might hint so, but if that were the case, it still has a long way to go to catch up to the reigning king.
As it stands now, the PlayStation 4 has just about equaled or surpassed the PlayStation 3, which was estimated to have sold less than 83 million consoles over its lifetime. However, the PlayStation 2 sits at its lofty perch of 155 million console sales, leaving the PlayStation 4 still 72 million console sales behind, nearly its entire lifetime sales to date.
Man, that PlayStation 2… what a monster!
And with Sony hinting that the PlayStation 4 might be on its way out of production in the coming years, that is a tough peak to overcome.
