So, it looks like Sony sold ~21.2m PS5s in their fiscal year of 2023 (1st April '23 to 31st March '24).

Comparatively, although Microsoft uses a different fiscal year time frame, the've sold ~7m Xbox Series X|S in the same time.

That's a solid 3:1 ratio. I don't think we have ever seen this before between the two.

PS2 era was way worse, also maybe in the final years of Xone vs PS4 too.

Yeah I was going to say the PS2 compared to the OG Xbox was by far the biggest difference. ~160M for PS2 compared to 24.65M for OG Xbox. That is a 6.5:1 ratio.

Worldwide estimates for March 2024

Link to the VGChartz article here.

PS5 Sells Over 1.3M, All Consoles Drop YoY - Worldwide Hardware Estimates for March 2024

The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console worldwide with 1,338,835 units sold for March 2024, according to VGChartz estimates. The PlayStation 5 has now sold an estimated 56.89 million units lifetime worldwide.

The Nintendo Switch sold an estimated 945,038 units to bring its lifetime sales to 139.50 million units. The Xbox Series X|S sold 350,932 units to bring their lifetime sales to 28.30 million units. The PlayStation 4 sold an estimated 6,238 units to bring its lifetime sales to 117.17 million units.

PS5 sales compared to the same month for the PS4 in 2017 are down by over 153,000 units, while the Xbox Series X|S compared to the same month for the Xbox One are down by nearly 193,000 units. PS4 sold 1,492,148 units for the month of March 2017 and Xbox One sales were at 543,701 units.

PlayStation 5 sales compared to the same month a year ago are down by 559,982 (-29.5%). Xbox Series X|S sales are down by 189,542 units (-35.1%) and Nintendo Switch sales are down by 157,039 units (-14.3%). The PlayStation 4 is down by 18,904 units (-75.2%) year-over-year. 

Looking at sales month-on-month, PlayStation 5 sales are up by over 6,000 units, Xbox Series X|S sales are up by nearly 32,000 units, and Nintendo Switch sales are up by over 147,000 units.

2024 year-to-date, the PlayStation 5 has sold an estimated 4.11 million units, the Nintendo Switch has sold 2.78 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S has sold 1.07 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 March 2024 (Followed by lifetime sales):

1. PlayStation 5 - 1,338,835 (56,894,112)
2. Switch - 945,038 (139,500,394)
3. Xbox Series X|S - 350,932 (28,302,131)
4. PlayStation 4 - 6,238 (117,167,646)

Weekly Sales:

Global March 9, 2024 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 284,007
2. Switch - 204,591
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 76,043
4. PlayStation 4 - 2,452

Global March 16, 2024 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 273,309
2. Switch - 169,764
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 65,105
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,159

Global March 23, 2024 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 270,498
2. Switch - 186,080
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 70,005
4. PlayStation 4 - 786

Global March 30, 2024 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 250,745
2. Switch - 179,206
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 66,666
4. PlayStation 4 - 1,215

Global April 6, 2024 hardware estimates:

1. PlayStation 5 - 260,276
2. Switch - 205,397
   
3. Xbox Series X|S - 73,113
4. PlayStation 4 - 626

Switch having the smallest YOY drop of the three current systems is hilarious.
It makes sense in context, but still, seeing a system in its 8th year holding better than two in their 4th year is fun.

Link to the VGChartz article here.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs Switch 2024 Worldwide Sales Comparison Charts Through March

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 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. 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)

2021 – (January 2021 to March 2021)

2022 – (January 2022 to March 2022)

2023 – (January 2023 to March 2023)

2024 – (January 2024 to March 2024)

"Year to date" sales for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2043 sales are shown in series at the top of the table and then just below a comparison of 2024 versus 2023 and 2024 versus 2022 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
• 1.07 units sold year-to-date
• Down year-on-year 411,501 units (-27.8%)

Nintendo

• Nintendo Switch
• 2.78 million units sold year-to-date
• Down year-on-year 345,425 units (-11.1%)

Sony

• PlayStation 5
• 4.11 million units sold year-to-date
• Down year-on-year 881,986 units (-17.7%)
• PlayStation 4
• 19,243 units sold year-to-date
• Down year-on-year 46,399 (-70.7%)

PS2 destroyed the Xbox handily, but you seem to have acknowledged that in subsequent posts. 

I'm wondering globally if Xbox 360 outsold the PS3 3:1 or more in a month. PS3 had a rough go for almost 3 years, but Xbox doesn't have the global presence of PlayStation (namely Japan). 

Series X/S were at one point the fastest selling Xbox console in history, and now they're all but guaranteed to sell notably below the Xbox One (and not even touch the 360). Yeah, they're only tracking slightly behind Xbox One right now. But at this point in its life, Xbox One was getting ready to launch Game Pass, the One X and such. Also, Microsoft was not talking about the successor to the Xbox One in a big way, if at all. 

That's the first quarter of the year over and while the PS5 is down a lot compared to last March it did insane that March so still did really well this month though once again is falling behind the PS4. Switch is holding up well so far though the comparisons the next few months will be tough and Xbox Series really is struggling now. They might have a good holiday lineup and COD on Game Pass will be significant but with the focus shifting away from hardware sales that'll only help so much at this point.

Link to the VGChartz article here.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X|S vs Switch Launch Sales Comparison Through Month 41

This monthly series compares the aligned launch sales of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

It should be noted the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X|S had a worldwide launch, while the PlayStation 5 launch was split over the course of two weeks. Also, the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, while the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launched during the holidays in November 2020.

PS5 Vs. Xbox Series X|S Vs. Switch Global:

1. Switch: 61,436,747
2. PS5: 56,894,112
3. XSX|S: 28,302,131

Through the first 41 months available worldwide the Nintendo Switch is ahead of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Switch is ahead of the PS5 by 4.54 million units and is 33.13 million units ahead of the Xbox Series X|S. The PS5 is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S by 28.59 million units.

The Switch has sold 61.44 million in 41 months worldwide, while the PS5 sold 55.89 million units and the Xbox Series X|S 28.30 million units.

Looking at the marketshare through 41 months, the Switch is in the lead. The Switch has a 41.9 percent marketshare, the PS5 sits at 38.8 percent, and the Xbox Series X|S at 19.3 percent.

PS5 Vs. Xbox Series X|S Vs. Switch US:

1. Switch: 20,654,285
2. PS5: 20,018,450
3. XSX|S: 14,218,303

Through the first 41 months available in the US the Nintendo Switch is ahead of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Switch is ahead of the PS5 by 0.64 million units and is 6.44 million units ahead of the Xbox Series X|S. The PS5 is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S by 5.80 million units.

The Switch has sold 20.65 million in 41 months in the US, while the PS5 sold 20.02 million units and the Xbox Series X|S 14.22 million units.

Looking at the marketshare through 41 months, the Switch currently leads. The Switch has a 37.6 percent marketshare, the PS5 sits at 36.5 percent, and the Xbox Series X|S at 25.9 percent.

PS5 Vs. Xbox Series X|S Vs. Switch Europe:

1. PS5: 18,714,577
2. Switch: 15,815,099
3. XSX|S: 7,598,469

Through the first 41 months available in Europe the PlayStation 5 is ahead of the Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X|S. The PS5 is ahead of the Switch by 2.90 million units and is 11.12 million units ahead of the Xbox Series X|S. The Switch is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S by 8.22 million units.

The PS5 has sold 18.71 million in 41 months in Europe, while the Switch sold 15.82 million units and the Xbox Series X|S 7.60 million units.

Looking at the marketshare through 41 months, the PlayStation 5 currently leads. The PS5 has a 44.4 percent marketshare, the Switch sits at 37.5 percent, and the Xbox Series X|S at 18.1 percent.

PS5 Vs. Xbox Series X|S Vs. Switch Japan:

1. Switch: 14,556,971
2. PS5: 5,486,203
3. XSX|S: 574,885

Through the first 41 months available in Japan the Switch is ahead of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S by a wide margin. The Switch is ahead of the PS5 by 9.07 million units and is 13.98 million units ahead of the Xbox Series X|S. The PS5 is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S by 4.91 million units.

The Switch has sold 14.56 million units in 41 months in Japan, while the PS5 has sold 5.49 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S 0.57 million units.

Looking at the marketshare through 41 months, the Switch currently leads. The Switch has a 70.6 percent marketshare, the PS5 sits at 26.6 percent, and the Xbox Series X|S at 2.8 percent.

I've gone through all our Switch sales for Q1 2024 and have adjusted it down from 139.50M to 139.22M. We had it up YoY in Asia and MEA (similar to Japan) as those regions we get little data from and sales are now down ~10% YoY in those regions. I also lowered sales slightly in Canada, Latin America, Germany, Other Europe, and Oceania. The gap between shipped and sold did still shrink in the latest quarter compared to the end of 2023. But not by as much.