Sony said today that it has sold more than 5.3 million PlayStation 4 units in the 13 weeks since the video game console launched. That is a record-breaking performance, and it will be a tough tally for rival Microsoft to top.
Microsoft’s Xbox One video game console had sold more than 3 million units as of Dec. 31. Sony said that the PS4 continues to see strong growth and momentum as it expands to new territories.
“I am thrilled that so many customers around the globe have continued to select PS4 as the best place to play throughout and beyond the holiday season,” said Andrew House, the president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, the game division of the Japanese electronics giant. “We are delighted that according to the NPD Group’s latest data, PS4 was January’s top-selling console in the United States.”
He added, “The PS4 system’s momentum just keeps growing stronger, and we are extremely grateful for the continued passion and support of PlayStation fans. February 22 sees the launch of PS4 in Japan, and I’m looking forward to Japanese fans sharing the excitement of the deep social capabilities and entertainment experiences only possible on PS4.”
Sony began selling the PS4 in the U.S. on Nov. 15, and it has expanded that reach to the rest of North America, Latin America, and Asia. In the past, console makers struggled to sell 10 million units in a year. At this rate, Sony could top that number in half a year.
The strong sales for both consoles are a reflection of strong demand for the machines as these are the first shipped by Sony and Microsoft since 2005 and 2006. But the console launches are stronger than in the past because of the rapid advances in contract manufacturing, which can now churn out tech products by the tens of millions. On top of that, both Sony and Microsoft went with x86-based chips from Advanced Micro Devices. That is significant because such chips are known quantities and easier to manufacture than brand new hardware. The result is that this console generation isn’t as limited by supply constraints as past console launches have been.
DFC Intelligence, a veteran market researcher, estimates that both the PS4 and Xbox One could sell more than 100 million units each during this console cycle.