Sony once again calls the PlayStation 5 its "most successful" console ever, despite the PS2's sales crown

[midian182]

In brief: While the best-selling console of all time is the PlayStation 2, Sony has again said that the latest generation of the long-running console line, the PlayStation 5, is the "most successful" – though there are a few reasons why.

Geoff Keighley, the video game journalist and presenter known for hosting The Game Awards, posted an image on X of Sony executive Hideaki Nishino's presentation at the Tokyo Game Show.

Nishino-san says PlayStation 5 is the most successful generation in PlayStation history. pic.twitter.com/E5feupYHGr

– Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) September 25, 2025

The chart behind Nishino shows that from 2020 to 2024, the PlayStation 5 generation earned Sony $136 billion in sales. That's more than any other generation before it.

According to the chart, the original PlayStation console's sales reached $24 billion between 1994 and 1999. The PS2 (2000 – 2005) was at $44 billion, and the PS3 (2006 – 2012) was $71 billion.

The PlayStation 2, of course, is the best-selling console of all time, shifting 160 million units during its lifetime, while the PlayStation 5 has sold half that amount – 80.3 million units.

The figures on the chart obviously have not been adjusted for inflation. Had that been the case, the PS2 would have been a lot more competitive.

Moreover, the PS5 figure includes all versions of console – standard, digital, slim, and the expensive Pro – as well as accessories such as the DualSense controllers and PSVR2 headsets. Sony also counts PlayStation Store revenue, PlayStation Plus subscriptions, cloud gaming and streaming revenue, PlayStation Direct sales, and first-party game sales in the number.

This isn't the first time Sony has shown off this chart. It was revealed during its Business Segment Meeting in May, when it also included operating income figures for each generation. The PS5 was still top with $13 billion, followed by the PS4 ($9 billion), the original PlayStation ($3 billion), the PS2 ($2 billion), and finally the PlayStation 3, which actually lost Sony $4 billion over six years.

In August, Sony said a challenging economic environment was forcing it to increase the price of its PS5 consoles in the US by $50: the increase means consumers now pay $499.99 for a digital edition console, $549.99 for a standard machine, and $749.99 for a PlayStation 5 Pro. The hike will further cement the PS5 as Sony's most financially successful PlayStation generation.

Image credit: Roberto Minasi

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Sony once again calls the PlayStation 5 its "most successful" console ever, despite the PS2's sales crown

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Sony, just put out good games and let them speak for you. These press releases are embarrassing.

 

[Revolution 11]

Sony, just put out good games and let them speak for you. These press releases are embarrassing.

The two are related.

It is getting harder to release games in general for reasons that have been covered in detail and the investor hordes must be kept happy so expect more embarrassing propaganda releases in the future.

 

[Ashford]

PS5 is the only console I dont currently, nor have I ever owned. I never felt the need to upgrade the PS4 Pro.

Maybe 6 will be worth it, or maybe as a customer of theirs since 1994 they've lost touch.

I'd like to see a second console, a PS Retro. Access to the libraries 2 gens behind the current... I just dont feel Playstation games are designed for my lifestyle/social circle anymore.

 

[Revolution 11]

PS5 is the only console I dont currently, nor have I ever owned. I never felt the need to upgrade the PS4 Pro.

Maybe 6 will be worth it, or maybe as a customer of theirs since 1994 they've lost touch.

I'd like to see a second console, a PS Retro. Access to the libraries 2 gens behind the current... I just dont feel Playstation games are designed for my lifestyle/social circle anymore.

I would recommend a PC hooked up to your TV with Steam's Big Picture mode turned on and your favorite controller. You get the console experience on your couch with all the modern games out there but also with a lot of older emulated games if you get any of the popular emulators out there. PS3 emulation is not as stable as I would like it but PS1/PS2 is mature at this point.

Or you can go down the Steam Deck route and play anywhere you want.

 

[Rumiku]

When you have to shout "look at me" with slanted numbers, it takes away from what successes are valid. The latest generation of consoles have been yawn worthy; and this is coming from a person that bought several Switch 2's to replace launch versions of Switch 1's (which I'm starting to regret, since Nintendo is just gal dang hellbent on sabotaging itself and their fanbase).

The PS5 Pro is a disaster. Sony has been hocking woke games that have tanked. Re-re-remastered games are all that it seems to want to focus on. Just, yawn. Their vision of the future they recently talked about gave zero confidence they understand the issue and even less they will correct anything in the near future.

 

[Rumiku]

I would recommend a PC hooked up to your TV with Steam's Big Picture mode turned on and your favorite controller. You get the console experience on your couch with all the modern games out there but also with a lot of older emulated games if you get any of the popular emulators out there. PS3 emulation is not as stable as I would like it but PS1/PS2 is mature at this point.

Or you can go down the Steam Deck route and play anywhere you want.

I did just that for my Wife, who enjoyed a few PS5 games, but hated that PS4 games didn't play well from her library. They all happen to be on Steam. So Steam Big Picture mode launches right on startup, works well with her controller of choice and is excited to not have to lose her save data ever again.

If only N64 emulation would get better. It's playable, but nothing like other emulators.