October 7, 2025, 3:49 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Sony has reached a new milestone with the PlayStation 5. According to company reports, the current console generation has generated around $136 billion in revenue—more than any previous PlayStation. This makes the PS5, according to PlayStation chief Hideaki Nishino, the most successful console in the company’s history, at least in terms of revenue.
Revenue More Important Than Sales Figures
At the Tokyo Game Show 2025, Nishino explained that the PS5 is economically more successful than all its predecessors—not because of the number of units sold, but because of the revenue generated. According to “Twistedvoxel.com,” the PS5’s revenue so far stands at $136 billion (around 116 billion euros). For comparison: The PlayStation 2 brought in about $44 billion, the PS3 $71 billion, and the PS4 $107 billion. Thus, the current generation significantly surpasses all previous consoles.
Although the PS2 remains the world’s best-selling console with around 160 million units sold, the PS5 falls significantly short with about 80 million devices sold. Nevertheless, the revenue balance shows that Sony’s strategy with paid online services, accessories, and digital games is paying off.
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High Costs Temper Success
How profitable the PS5 truly is remains unclear—Nishino did not provide any information on profits. What is certain is that the production costs of the console are higher than those of previous models. At launch in 2020, they were estimated at about $450 per device, initially leading to loss-making sales. Additionally, ongoing operating costs for online services like PlayStation Plus and the PlayStation Store reduce revenue.
PS5 Dominates Console Market
Despite the high costs, the PS5 remains a resounding success and clearly dominates the current console market ahead of Microsoft’s Xbox. While Sony’s gaming business continues to grow five years after the launch of the current console generation, the Xbox division struggles with declining hardware sales. For Sony, the PS5 is not only a revenue driver but also a strategic success in an increasingly competitive market.