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trunkswd on 08 June 2023
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Worldwide Hardware Estimates for May 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console worldwide with 1,525,579 units sold for May 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The Nintendo Switch has now sold an estimated 126.52 million units lifetime worldwide.

The PlayStation 5 sold an estimated 1,095,237 units to bring its lifetime sales to 38.45 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 329,569 units to bring their lifetime sales to 21.96 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 11,548 units to bring its lifetime sales to 117.05 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are up by nearly 343,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are up by over 67,000 units. PS4 sold 752,290 units for the month of May 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 262,190 units.

Nintendo Switch sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 472,773 (44.9%). PlayStation 5 sales are up by 519,032 units (90.1%) and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by 132,424 units (-28.7%). The PlayStation 4 is down 16,833 units (-59.3%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, Nintendo Switch sales are up by nearly 252,000 units, PlayStation 5 sales are down by nearly 251,000 units, and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by over 52,000 units.

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 7.44 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 5.88 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 2.23 million units.

Check out the breakdown of the Americas sales here, the Europe sales here, and the Japan sales here.

Monthly Sales:

Global hardware estimates for May 2023 (Followed by lifetime sales):

  1. Switch - 1,525,579 (126,512,699)
  2. PlayStation 5 - 1,095,237 (38,449,757)
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 329,569 (21,960,569)
  4. PlayStation 4 - 11,548 (117,045,066)
Americas (US, Canada, Latin America) hardware estimates for May 2023:
  1. Switch - 535,009
  2. PlayStation 5 - 319,321 
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 171,904 
  4. PlayStation 4 - 2,508 
Europe hardware estimates for May 2023:
  1. Switch - 371,758 
  2. PlayStation 5 - 333,075 
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 120,155 
  4. PlayStation 4 - 3,272 
Asia (Japan, mainland Asia, Middle East) hardware estimates for May 2023:
  1. Switch - 555,153
  2. PlayStation 5 - 401,557
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 16,706
  4. PlayStation 4 - 5,553
Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) hardware estimates for May 2023:
  1. Switch - 63,659
  2. PlayStation 5 - 41,284
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 20,804
  4. PlayStation 4 - 215

Weekly Sales:

Global May 6, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 391,769
  2. PlayStation 5 - 304,537
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 74,790
  4. PlayStation 4 - 3,058

Global May 13, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 426,852
  2. PlayStation 5 - 275,618
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 78,898
  4. PlayStation 4 - 2,737

Global May 20, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 360,608
  2. PlayStation 5 - 257,743
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 85,842
  4. PlayStation 4 - 2,845

Global May 27, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 346,350
  2. PlayStation 5 - 257,339
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 90,039
  4. PlayStation 4 - 2,908

Americas Hardware Estimates for May 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in the Americas (USA, Canada, & Latin America) with 535,009 units sold for May 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The Nintendo Switch has now sold an estimated 48.79 million units lifetime in the Americas.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom released on May 12, while the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition released at the end of April.

The PlayStation 5 sold an estimated 319,321 units to bring its lifetime sales to 16.80 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 171,904 units to bring their lifetime sales to 12.85 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 2,508 units to bring its lifetime sales to 41.57 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are up by over 80,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are up by nearly 34,000 units. PS4 sold 239,017 units for the month of May 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 138,247 units.

Nintendo Switch sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 197,895 (58.7%). PlayStation 5 sales are up by 167,944 units (110.9%) and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by 50,342 units (-22.7%). The PlayStation 4 is down 14,700 units (-85.4%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 73,000 units, PlayStation 5 sales are down by nearly 70,000 units, and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by nearly 76,000 units.

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 2.63 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 2.09 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 1.39 million units.

Monthly Sales:

Americas hardware estimates for May 2023 (Followed by lifetime sales):

  1. Switch - 535,009 (48,787,790)
  2. PlayStation 5 - 319,321 (16,796,402)
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 171,904 (12,846,414)
  4. PlayStation 4 - 2,508 (41,569,278)

USA hardware estimates for May 2023:

  1. Switch - 450,474
  2. PlayStation 5 - 270,835
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 145,118
  4. PlayStation 4 - 2,122

Weekly Sales:

May 6, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

  1. Switch - 133,128
  2. PlayStation 5 - 85,397
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 37,693
  4. PlayStation 4 - 618

USA:

  1. Switch - 112,352
  2. PlayStation 5 - 72,351
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 31,923
  4. PlayStation 4 - 523

May 13, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

  1. Switch - 160,445
  2. PlayStation 5 - 81,245
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 40,873
  4. PlayStation 4 - 645

USA:

  1. Switch - 135,235
  2. PlayStation 5 - 68,925
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 34,512
  4. PlayStation 4 - 546

May 20, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

  1. Switch - 122,881
  2. PlayStation 5 - 77,698
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 46,094
  4. PlayStation 4 - 628

USA:

  1. Switch - 103,052
  2. PlayStation 5 - 65,938
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 38,945
  4. PlayStation 4 - 531

May 27, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

  1. Switch - 118,555
  2. PlayStation 5 - 74,981
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 47,244
  4. PlayStation 4 - 617

USA:

  1. Switch - 99,835
  2. PlayStation 5 - 63,621
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 39,738
  4. PlayStation 4 - 522

Europe Hardware Estimates for May 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in Europe with 371,758 units sold for May 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The Nintendo Switch has now sold an estimated 32.30 million units lifetime in Europe.

The PlayStation 5 sold an estimated 333,075 units to bring its lifetime sales to 11.68 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 120,155 units to bring their lifetime sales to 5.98 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 3,272 units to bring its lifetime sales to 45.84 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are down by nearly 11,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are up by over 31,000 units. PS4 sold 343,930 units for the month of April 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 88,787 units.

PlayStation 5 sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 122,998 (58.6%). Nintendo Switch sales are up by 92,629 units (33.2%) and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by 27,412 units (-18.6%). The PlayStation 4 is down 1,542 units (-32.0%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, Nintendo Switch sales are up by nearly 40,000 units, PlayStation 5 sales are down by over 106,000 units, and Xbox Series X|S sales are up by nearly 19,000 units. 

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 2.18 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 1.52 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 0.57 million units.

Monthly Sales:

Europe hardware estimates for May 2023 (Followed by lifetime sales):

  1. Switch - 371,758 (32,301,107)
  2. PlayStation 5 - 333,075 (11,681,176)
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 120,155 (5,977,429)
  4. PlayStation 4 - 3,272 (45,838,511)

Weekly Sales:

Europe May 6, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 95,759
  2. PlayStation 5 - 88,100
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 27,503
  4. PlayStation 4 - 859

Europe May 13, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 111,490
  2. PlayStation 5 - 85,414
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 29,160
  4. PlayStation 4 - 833

Europe May 20, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 86,218
  2. PlayStation 5 - 79,146
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 30,776
  4. PlayStation 4 - 806

Europe May 27, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. PlayStation 5 - 80,415
  2. Switch - 78,291
  3. Xbox Series X|S - 32,716
  4. PlayStation 4 - 774

Japan Hardware Estimates for May 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in Japan with 344,989 units sold for May 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The Nintendo Switch has now sold an estimated 29.33 million units lifetime in Japan.

The PlayStation 5 sold an estimated 170,778 units to bring its lifetime sales to 3.59 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 3,641 units to bring its lifetime sales to 9.62 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 1,304 units to bring their lifetime sales to 0.44 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are up by nearly 81,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are up by nearly 1,000 units. PS4 sold 90,138 units for the month of May 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 324 units.

Nintendo Switch sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 104,749 units (43.6%). PlayStation 5 sales are up by 116,864 (216.8%) and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by 20,911 units (-94.1%). The PlayStation 4 is up 3,542 units (3,577.8%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 64,000 units, the PlayStation 5 sales are down by over 10,000 units, and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by over 1,000 units.

Monthly Sales:

Japan hardware estimates for May 2023 (Followed by lifetime sales):

  1. Switch - 344,989 (29,334,678)
  2. PlayStation 5 - 170,778 (3,588,905)
  3. PlayStation 4 - 3,641 (9,622,381)
  4. Xbox Series X|S - 1,304 (441,918)

Weekly Sales:

Japan May 6, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 88,713
  2. PlayStation 5 - 54,054
  3. PlayStation 4 - 996
  4. Xbox Series X|S - 523

Japan May 13, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 83,068
  2. PlayStation 5 - 41,452
  3. PlayStation 4 - 779
  4. Xbox Series X|S - 281

Japan May 20, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 86,662
  2. PlayStation 5 - 37,168
  3. PlayStation 4 - 889
  4. Xbox Series X|S - 254

Japan May 27, 2023 hardware estimates:

  1. Switch - 86,546
  2. PlayStation 5 - 38,104
  3. PlayStation 4 - 977
  4. Xbox Series X|S - 246

VGChartz Methodology: Hardware estimates are based on retail sampling and trends in individual countries, which are then extrapolated to represent the wider region. This typically allows us to produce figures that end up being within 10% of the actual totals.

This data is regularly compared against official shipment figures released by the console manufacturers and figures estimated by regional trackers with greater market coverage than ourselves. We then update our own estimates to bring them into line with those figures. This can result in frequent changes often within a short space of time, but we feel it's important to prioritise accuracy over consistency.

Note that our estimates are based on sell-through data (units sold to consumers). In almost all cases the figures released by console manufacturers are based on shipment data (sell-in), where as soon as a device has left the factory and entered the supply chain for delivery it is considered a sale. This is why there is always a difference between the companies’ figures (sell-in) and VGChartz estimates (sell-through), even after we’ve made adjustments. The one exception to that is when a console has been discontinued and the remaining stock has finally sold out – at that point the figures will match.

Last edited by trunkswd - on 30 June 2023

VGChartz Sales Analyst and Writer - William D'Angelo - I stream on Twitch and have my own YouTube. Follow me on Twitter @TrunksWD.

Writer of the Sales Comparison | Weekly Hardware Breakdown | Top 10 | Weekly Sales Analysis | Marketshare Features, as well as daily news on the Video Game Industry.