By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Kyuu on 20 November 2022
Edit Thread
Agente42 said:
Kyuu said:

What are you basing this on? All evidence points to the opposite (launch aligned revenue, profits, subscribers, software sales etc for Playstation are much higher now than PS4's early days). It's also confirmed early on that engagements/spending levels on PS5 were MUCH higher than PS4, but that was before production levels hit a new low (2021 Q4 and 2022 Q1), and we don't have updates regarding PS5 individually since then.

The first 10 million+ selling exclusive on PS4 landed about 2.5 years after launch (Uncharted 4). PS5 already has 4 or 5 platform exclusives that will pass 10 million each quite easily. Software sales only declined when compared to late stage PS4 sales, which is normal and expected in the context of shortage. Otherwise launch aligned, Playstation is doing a lot better now overall.

Do you have any software data on PS4's first couple of years?

Yeah, profit is higher, but software sales are lower. The profit is based on MTX, DLCs, and services, and Sony stops dropping your videogames prices aggressively. 

Japanese market seems to demonstrate the beginning of the transition, more towards services, games online with MTX, DLC, etc. Fewer software sales, but profits is rising. Excellent. 

Sony categorized things differently until FY2015 or 2016 when they shifted to the current model. Their combined "software sales" across all platforms (PS3, PS4, PSP, Vita) hit 460 million in FY2014 (where they sold a combined 21.2 million hardware, vs PS4+PS5's 12.5 million units (production capped) in FY2021).

In FY2015/16~ their report stopped accounting for PS3, PSP, and Vita software numbers because a) they were irrelevant and b) they shifted to reporting "full game software". This resulted in reported software sales to decline all the way from 460 million FY2014 down to 158.7 million in FY2015. The old "software sales" figures likely counted DLC as individual sales, as opposed to only "full game software". For those reasons among others, it's impossible to make an accurate like for like comparison between PS5 and PS4's early years. It's reasonable to assume PS4 software is slightly or moderately ahead launch aligned due to its larger install base and quicker generational transition (in engagement and "NextGen-ness") but it's by no means a fact. Overall, Playstation is in a stronger position now than early PS4 days, and it should see a massive growth in FY2023 provided the economical mess won't be affecting gaming too much.

Last edited by Kyuu - on 20 November 2022