Welcome to the December 2023 VGChartz estimates thread. The articles breaking down December 2023 estimates will be posted in this thread.

You can go to the front page of the site and use the drop down to see the different weekly sales.

Worldwide Hardware Estimates for December 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

PS5 Sells 3.71M, PS5 and XS Sales Climb YoY - Worldwide Hardware Estimates for December 2023

The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console worldwide with 3,714,932 units sold for December 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The PlayStation 5 has now sold an estimated 52.65 million units lifetime worldwide.

The Nintendo Switch sold an estimated 3,181,704 units to bring its lifetime sales to 136.26 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 1,854,862 units to bring their lifetime sales to 27.23 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 28,240 units to bring its lifetime sales to 117.15 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are down by over 889,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are down by nearly 899,000 units. PS4 sold 4,604,141 units for the month of December 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 2,753,607 units.

PlayStation 5 sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 641,024 (20.9%). Xbox Series X|S sales are up by 267,826 units (16.9%) and Nintendo Switch sales are down by 913,986 units (-22.3%). The PlayStation 4 is down by 28,801 units (-50.5%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, PlayStation 5 sales are up by over 169,000 units, Xbox Series X|S sales are up by nearly 824,000 units, and Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 1,501,000 units. 

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 21.64 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 15.90 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 7.50 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 December 2023 (Followed by lifetime sales):

1. PlayStation 5 - 3,714,932 (52,647,376)
2. Switch - 3,181,704 (136,258,010)
3. Xbox Series X|S - 1,854,862 (27,228,480)
4. PlayStation 4 - 28,240 (117,149,072)

Weekly Sales:

Global December 2, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 790,061
2. Switch - 687,855
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 434,339
4. PlayStation 4 - 5,385
   

Global December 9, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 728,314
2. Switch - 626,579
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 359,239
4. PlayStation 4 - 6,599

Global December 16, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 826,036
2. Switch - 670,660
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 389,822
4. PlayStation 4 - 7,245

Global December 23, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 894,005
2. Switch - 783,143
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 456,716
4. PlayStation 4 - 5,703

Global December 30, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 476,516
2. Switch - 413,467
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 214,746
4. PlayStation 4 - 3,308

Americas Hardware Estimates for December 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

PS5 Best-Seller, PS5 and XS Sales Jump YoY - Americas Hardware Estimates for December 2023

The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console in the Americas (USA, Canada, & Latin America) with 1,816,666 units sold for December 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The PlayStation 5 has now sold an estimated 22.07 million units lifetime in the Americas.

The Nintendo Switch was the second best-selling console with an estimated 1,466,692 units sold to bring lifetime sales to 52.20 million units. The Xbox Series X|S came in third place with 1,346,557 units sold to bring its lifetime sales to 16.26 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 8,807 units to bring its lifetime sales to 41.53 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are up by nearly 20,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are down by over 411,000 units. PS4 sold 1,796,843 units for the month of December 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 1,757,575 units.

PlayStation 5 sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 235,718 (15.9%). Xbox Series X|S sales are up by 241,746 units (21.9%) and Nintendo Switch sales are down by 169,024 units (-10.3%). The PlayStation 4 is down by 8,442 units (-48.9%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, PlayStation 5 sales are up by nearly 596,000 units, Xbox Series X|S sales are up by nearly 660,000 units, and Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 785,000 units.

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 7.93 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 5.70 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 4.65 million units.

Monthly Sales:

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

1. PlayStation 5 - 1,816,666 (22,070,030)
2. Switch - 1,466,692 (52,197,510)
3. Xbox Series X|S - 1,346,557 (16,262,506)
4. PlayStation 4 - 8,807 (41,534,794)

USA hardware estimates for December 2023:

1. PlayStation 5 - 1,532,741
   
2. Switch - 1,245,752
3. Xbox Series X|S - 1,128,410
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 7,625

Weekly Sales:

December 2, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 417,553
2. Switch - 359,077
3. Xbox Series X|S - 325,558
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,125

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 351,583
   
2. Switch - 304,764
3. Xbox Series X|S - 271,535
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,856

December 9, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 371,550
2. Switch - 293,433
3. Xbox Series X|S - 263,400
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,720

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 312,968
   
2. Switch - 249,745
3. Xbox Series X|S - 219,962
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,487

December 16, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 409,508
2. Switch - 303,152
3. Xbox Series X|S - 282,197
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,749

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 345,764
2. Switch - 257,967
3. Xbox Series X|S - 237,931
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,512

December 23, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 437,271
2. Switch - 354,994
3. Xbox Series X|S - 327,412
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,953

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 369,459
2. Switch - 300,734
3. Xbox Series X|S - 274,459
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,687

December 30, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 180,784
   
2. Switch - 156,036
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 147,990
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,260

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 152,967
2. Switch - 132,542
3. Xbox Series X|S - 124,523
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,083

Europe Hardware Estimates for December 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

PS5 Best-Seller, Switch Tops 35M - Europe Hardware Estimates for December 2023

The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console in Europe with 1,181,934 units sold for December 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The PlayStation 5 has now sold an estimated 17.38 million units lifetime in Europe.

The Nintendo Switch sold an estimated 968,760 units to bring its lifetime sales to 35.06 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 354,953 units to bring their lifetime sales to 7.34 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 10,573 units to bring its lifetime sales to 45.85 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are down by nearly 638,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are down by over 274,000 units. PS4 sold 1,819,640 units for the month of December 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 629,033 units.

PlayStation 5 sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 432,805 (57.8%). Xbox Series X|S sales are down by 71,494 units (-16.8%) and Nintendo Switch sales are down by 245,068 units (-20.2%). The PlayStation 4 is up by 9,076 units (606.3%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, PlayStation 5 sales are down by over 528,000 units, Xbox Series X|S sales are up by nearly 110,000 units, and Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 447,000 units.

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 7.87 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 4.24 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 1.94 million units.

Monthly Sales:

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

1. PlayStation 5 - 1,181,934 (17,379,260)
2. Switch - 968,760 (35,056,124)
3. Xbox Series X|S - 354,953 (7,341,779)
4. PlayStation 4 - 10,573 (45,845,459)

Weekly Sales:

Europe December 2, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 246,070
2. Switch - 188,103
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 71,548
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,925
   

Europe December 9, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 234,766
2. Switch - 180,556
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 62,022
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,161

Europe December 16, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 255,967
2. Switch - 210,493
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 76,383
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,488

Europe December 23, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 289,648
2. Switch - 267,733
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 95,818
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,787

Europe December 30, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 155,483
2. Switch - 121,875
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 49,182
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,212

Japan Hardware Estimates for December 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

Switch Best-Seller During Slow Holidays - Japan Hardware Estimates for December 2023

The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console in Japan with 435,398 units sold for December 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The Nintendo Switch has now sold an estimated 31.84 million units lifetime in Japan.

The PlayStation 5 sold an estimated 212,405 units to bring its lifetime sales to 4.97 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 7,365 units to bring their lifetime sales to 0.54 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 6,605 units to bring its lifetime sales to 9.67 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are down by over 321,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are up by over 3,000 units. PS4 sold 533,518 units for the month of November 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 3,885 units.

Nintendo Switch sales compared to the same month a year ago are down by 325,484 units (-42.8%). PlayStation 5 sales are down by 19,940 (-8.6%) and Xbox Series X|S sales are up by 1,222 units (19.9%). The PlayStation 4 is down by 9,238 units (-58.3%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 139,000 units, the PlayStation 5 sales are down by nearly 19,000 units, and Xbox Series X|S sales are down by over 5,000 units. It should be noted there are five weeks in December, while there were four weeks in November.

2023 year-to-date, the Nintendo Switch has sold an estimated 3.95 million units, the PlayStation 5 has sold 2.54 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 0.14 million units.

Monthly Sales:

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

1. Switch - 435,398 (31,835,447)
2. PlayStation 5 - 212,405 (4,966,352)
3. Xbox Series X|S - 7,365 (543,660)
4. PlayStation 4 - 6,605 (9,666,122)

Weekly Sales:

Japan December 2, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. Switch - 79,067
2. PlayStation 5 - 43,955
3. Xbox Series X|S - 2,196
4. PlayStation 4 - 857
   

Japan December 9, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. Switch - 92,789
2. PlayStation 5 - 44,174
3. Xbox Series X|S - 2,515
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,183

Japan December 16, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. Switch - 94,658
2. PlayStation 5 - 42,325
3. PlayStation 4 - 2,439
4. Xbox Series X|S - 1,484
   

Japan December 23, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. Switch - 88,023
2. PlayStation 5 - 41,894
3. Xbox Series X|S - 602
4. PlayStation 4 - 594

Japan December 30, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. Switch - 80,861
2. PlayStation 5 - 40,057
3. Xbox Series X|S - 568
4. PlayStation 4 - 532

Link to VGChartz article here.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs Switch 2023 Japan Sales Comparison Charts Through December

Here we see data representing the sales through to consumers and change in sales performance of the three current platforms (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch) and two legacy platforms (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) over comparable periods for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Also shown is the market share for each of the consoles over the same periods.

Year to Date Sales Comparison (Same Periods Covered)

Market Share (Same Periods Covered)

2020 – (January 2020 to December 2020)

2021 – (January 2021 to December 2021)

2022 – (January 2022 to December 2022)

2023 – (January 2023 to December 2023)

"Year to date" sales for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 sales are shown in series at the top of the table and then just below a comparison of 2023 versus 2022 and 2023 versus 2021 is displayed.  This provides an easy-to-view summary of all the data.

Total Sales and Market Share for Each Year

Microsoft

• Xbox Series X|S
• 0.14 million units sold year-to-date
• Down year-on-year 130,027 units (-47.9%)

Nintendo

• Nintendo Switch
• 3.95 million units sold year-to-date
• Down year-on-year 746,947 units (-15.9%)

Sony

• PlayStation 5
• 2.54 million units sold year-to-date
• Up year-on-year 1,390,429 units (120.8%)
• PlayStation 4
• 0.07 million units sold year-to-date
• Up year-on-year 46,300 (185.2%)

Europe Hardware Estimates for December 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

PS5 Best-Seller, Switch Tops 35M - Europe Hardware Estimates for December 2023

The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console in Europe with 1,181,934 units sold for December 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The PlayStation 5 has now sold an estimated 17.38 million units lifetime in Europe.

The Nintendo Switch sold an estimated 968,760 units to bring its lifetime sales to 35.06 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 354,953 units to bring their lifetime sales to 7.34 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 10,573 units to bring its lifetime sales to 45.85 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are down by nearly 638,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are down by over 274,000 units. PS4 sold 1,819,640 units for the month of December 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 629,033 units.

PlayStation 5 sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 432,805 (57.8%). Xbox Series X|S sales are down by 71,494 units (-16.8%) and Nintendo Switch sales are down by 245,068 units (-20.2%). The PlayStation 4 is up by 9,076 units (606.3%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, PlayStation 5 sales are down by over 528,000 units, Xbox Series X|S sales are up by nearly 110,000 units, and Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 447,000 units.

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 7.87 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 4.24 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 1.94 million units.

Monthly Sales:

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

1. PlayStation 5 - 1,181,934 (17,379,260)
2. Switch - 968,760 (35,056,124)
3. Xbox Series X|S - 354,953 (7,341,779)
4. PlayStation 4 - 10,573 (45,845,459)

Weekly Sales:

Europe December 2, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 246,070
2. Switch - 188,103
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 71,548
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,925
   

Europe December 9, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 234,766
2. Switch - 180,556
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 62,022
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,161

Europe December 16, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 255,967
2. Switch - 210,493
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 76,383
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,488

Europe December 23, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 289,648
2. Switch - 267,733
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 95,818
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,787

Europe December 30, 2023 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 155,483
2. Switch - 121,875
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 49,182
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,212

Link to VGChartz article here.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs Switch 2023 Europe Sales Comparison Charts Through December

Here we see data representing the sales through to consumers and change in sales performance of the three current platforms (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch) and two legacy platforms (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) over comparable periods for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Also shown is the market share for each of the consoles over the same periods.

Year to Date Sales Comparison (Same Periods Covered)

Market Share (Same Periods Covered)

2020 – (January 2020 to December 2020)

2021 – (January 2021 to December 2021)

2022 – (January 2022 to December 2022)

2023 – (January 2023 to December 2023)

"Year to date" sales for 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 sales are shown in series at the top of the table and then just below a comparison of 2023 versus 2022 and 2023 versus 2021 is displayed.  This provides an easy-to-view summary of all the data.

Total Sales and Market Share for Each Year

Microsoft

• Xbox Series X|S
• 1.94 million units sold year-to-date
• Down year-on-year 324,428 units (-14.3%)

Nintendo

• Nintendo Switch
• 4.24 million units sold year-to-date
• Down year-on-year 754,098 units (-15.1%)

Sony

• PlayStation 5
• 7.87 million units sold year-to-date
• Up year-on-year 4,431,450 units (128.7%)
• PlayStation 4
• 0.07 million units sold year-to-date
• Up year-on-year 50,717 (311.9%)

Americas Hardware Estimates for December 2023

Link to VGChartz article here.

PS5 Best-Seller, PS5 and XS Sales Jump YoY - Americas Hardware Estimates for December 2023

The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console in the Americas (USA, Canada, & Latin America) with 1,816,666 units sold for December 2023, according to VGChartz estimates. The PlayStation 5 has now sold an estimated 22.07 million units lifetime in the Americas.

The Nintendo Switch was the second best-selling console with an estimated 1,466,692 units sold to bring lifetime sales to 52.20 million units. The Xbox Series X|S came in third place with 1,346,557 units sold to bring its lifetime sales to 16.26 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 8,807 units to bring its lifetime sales to 41.53 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2016 are up by nearly 20,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are down by over 411,000 units. PS4 sold 1,796,843 units for the month of December 2016 and Xbox One sales were at 1,757,575 units.

PlayStation 5 sales compared to the same month a year ago are up by 235,718 (15.9%). Xbox Series X|S sales are up by 241,746 units (21.9%) and Nintendo Switch sales are down by 169,024 units (-10.3%). The PlayStation 4 is down by 8,442 units (-48.9%) year-over-year.

Looking at sales month-on-month, PlayStation 5 sales are up by nearly 596,000 units, Xbox Series X|S sales are up by nearly 660,000 units, and Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 785,000 units.

2023 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 7.93 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 5.70 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 4.65 million units.

Monthly Sales:

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

1. PlayStation 5 - 1,816,666 (22,070,030)
2. Switch - 1,466,692 (52,197,510)
3. Xbox Series X|S - 1,346,557 (16,262,506)
4. PlayStation 4 - 8,807 (41,534,794)

USA hardware estimates for December 2023:

1. PlayStation 5 - 1,532,741
   
2. Switch - 1,245,752
3. Xbox Series X|S - 1,128,410
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 7,625

Weekly Sales:

December 2, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 417,553
2. Switch - 359,077
3. Xbox Series X|S - 325,558
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,125

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 351,583
   
2. Switch - 304,764
3. Xbox Series X|S - 271,535
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,856

December 9, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 371,550
2. Switch - 293,433
3. Xbox Series X|S - 263,400
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,720

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 312,968
   
2. Switch - 249,745
3. Xbox Series X|S - 219,962
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,487

December 16, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 409,508
2. Switch - 303,152
3. Xbox Series X|S - 282,197
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,749

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 345,764
2. Switch - 257,967
3. Xbox Series X|S - 237,931
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,512

December 23, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 437,271
2. Switch - 354,994
3. Xbox Series X|S - 327,412
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,953

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 369,459
2. Switch - 300,734
3. Xbox Series X|S - 274,459
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,687

December 30, 2023 hardware estimates:

Americas:

1. PlayStation 5 - 180,784
   
2. Switch - 156,036
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 147,990
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,260

USA:

1. PlayStation 5 - 152,967
2. Switch - 132,542
3. Xbox Series X|S - 124,523
   
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,083

Mat Piscatella said that PS5 and Series are up double digit percentage and Switch down double digit percentage over last year.

PS5 up by 15%, series up by 21% and Switch down by 10%? 

Why the discrepancies in percentages when he clearly didn't specify them.

I just don't see Switch being down only 10% over last December which had Pokemon. 

Xbox Series X|S had its best December to date and Mat didn't state PS5 had outsold the best year for the PS4, so I couldn't really have the PS5 much higher. Also the Switch was 2nd best-selling console in terms of units sold AND dollar sales. So if I had Switch really any lower it would have put dollar sales below the Xbox Series X|S. 

Plus these are Americas estimates, which includes Canada and Latin America. Xbox relative to the US performs better in Latin America than PlayStation and Nintendo.

Worldwide estimates for December will be out tomorrow. As a sneak preview, PS5 sold over 3.7M, NS over 3.1M, and XS over 1.8M. For all of 2023, PS5 is over 21.6M, NS at 15.9M, and XS just below 7.5M. Oh and lifetime sales through the end of 2023 are live on the front page. 

PS5 was at 31M at the end of 2022, according to official sell-through figures from Sony. It reached 50M in the 2nd week of December (according to Sony) for a total of 19M with 3 weeks left of the year. 

Amid all the doom and gloom surrounding Xbox these days and it's poor performance in recent months, it's nice to see it pull its best December to date in America.

Also, with this likely to be its last holiday as Nintendo's flagship, Switch is going out with a bang; impressive to see it hang relatively close to the PS5 in its prime.